MUMBAI: The Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union took out a morcha to Azad Maidan on Tuesday afternoon to highlight several issues including revival of dead permits and opposing the 16-year age limit for autos.

Said auto union leader Thampy Kurien , "We submitted a memorandum to the government demanding that the age limit of autos should be increased from 16 years to 20 years. If the age for taxis is 20 years, the same should be the case for autos."

He said that the union has also demanded revival of dead permits and the new permits should be given only to licence badge holders.

Nearly 500 auto drivers participated in the morcha. "However, services in the suburbs were not affected as we appealed to drivers to ply during morning and evening peak hour rush ," Kurien stated.

Kurien demanded that there should be two different IAS officers occupying chairman's post in STA and the MMRTA. "At present, the principal secretary (transport) is heading both posts. I think there should be another officer heading the MMRTA," he said. He also demanded that there should be reduction in "transfer of permit" fees.

Kurien said that auto drivers will lose money due to the new age limit rule. "Every driver has to pay the green tax after 15 years. This is collected for the next five years (Rs 150 x 5), and comes to Rs 750. But the tax will be relevant only for a year. Also, drivers have to change cylinders once in every five years and this involves a minimum cost of Rs 2,400. This too will be a wasteful exercise if cylinder is replaced after the 15th year," he stated.

While he is in favour of old autos being phased out, he has demanded that the government should change the rules for green tax and cylinder replacement for auto drivers in the region.