Telangana Approves 65,000 eco-friendly Auto-Rickshaws for Hyderabad

Key Highlights:

• The Telangana government has approved 65,000 new eco-friendly auto-rickshaw permits within Hyderabad's ORR limits.
• Only electric, CNG, LPG, and retrofitted autos are allowed under the new registration policy.
• The decision aims to reduce pollution and improve last-mile transport for the growing urban population.
• Vehicle owners can retrofit old petrol/diesel autos and get subsidies up to ₹15,000, which may increase to ₹25,000.
• New autos will get new registration numbers and help create job opportunities for thousands of families.

The Telangana government has decided to allow the registration of 65,000 new eco-friendly auto-rickshaws (electric three-wheelers) within Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) to reduce pollution and meet the growing transportation needs.

What Are These New Autos?

Only non-petrol and non-diesel auto-rickshaws will be allowed. These include electric, LPG, and CNG-powered vehicles. This decision was made official through Government Order (GO) No. 263.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar led this initiative, which aligns with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s vision for a greener Hyderabad.

Why This Decision Was Taken

Hyderabad’s population is growing fast, and so is the demand for last-mile transport, the autos that help people travel short distances, especially from homes to bus stops or metro stations. “The city is expanding with new apartments and layouts. To meet this demand and control pollution, we are promoting eco-friendly autos,” said Minister Prabhakar.

Permit Breakdown

The government has given specific numbers for different types of green auto-rickshaws:

• Electric Autos: 20,000 permits
• LPG Autos: 10,000 permits
• CNG Autos: 10,000 permits
• Retrofitted Autos: 25,000 permits (old petrol/diesel autos converted to clean energy)

Focus on Retrofitting Old Autos

The government is also encouraging owners of existing petrol and diesel autos to retrofit their vehicles using approved kits. These kits can change the vehicle’s engine to run on electricity, LPG, or CNG. To support this shift, the government currently offers a ₹15,000 subsidy, which may soon increase to ₹25,000. Once converted and approved, the vehicles will get new registrations and green number plates.

What This Means for Hyderabad

• Cleaner air and less noise
• Better last-mile transport options
• More job opportunities for 65,000 families
• Modern and eco-friendly public transport system

How to Apply

Those interested can check the eligibility and application process on the official Telangana Transport Department website: https://transport.telangana.gov.in

Also Read: FADA Sales Report May 2025: Three-wheeler YoY sales increased by 24.51%

CMV360 Says

The Telangana government's decision to allow only eco-friendly auto-rickshaws is a good step. It will help reduce air and noise pollution in Hyderabad, which is growing very fast. At the same time, it will create job opportunities for many people who depend on auto driving for their livelihood.