CNG-run autos in the national capital may soon be taken off the roads with Delhi government mulling a proposal to replace them with eco-friendly battery operated vehicles.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, slamming the auto operators for their "poor standard of service", said, "Their service is very poor. In today's time, it is not acceptable. We are exploring ways to phase them out."

She informed, "Honda and Bajaj are working on providing battery operated vehicles."
Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said, "There is a need to rein in the autos. A system on the lines of radio taxis could be an alternative. We are working on it."

Lovely said, "The vehicles will have a passenger capacity for six people. The service will initially be introduced in rural areas of the city."

Giving details of steps to rein in the fleecing autos, he said this year 1,877 autos were fined by the enforcement wing of the Transport department while a total of 8,777 autos were impounded in the last one year for violating norms.

In total he said nearly 1.2 lakh vehicles were fined by his department for various offences in the last one year. He said 1,831 buses and 521 mini buses were impounded in the same period.

He said in 2010, a total of 10,015 commercial vehicles were fined.
"We are committed to provide an eco-friendly mode of transportation to the citizens. From next week, we will intensify our drive against the polluting vehicles," Lovely said.