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        There seems to be a concerted move to rid the city of its bane and blessing - the share-autos. And the whole thing is being attempted rather insidiously.

        According to sources in the Transport Department, the RTOs are refusing to renew fitness certificates for these rickety vehicles. One superintendent said that they keep telling the drivers, in case they insist, that the government does not want to encourage diesel vehicles, and none of them has a pollution-free certificate.

        The government - in this case the Traffic Police Department - has always found the autorickshaws to be a bugbear. The drivers are notorious for creating trouble, they refuse to abide by rules. There are over 45,500 ricks in the city and official figures have it that only about 35,500 have recalibrated meters.

        How difficult it is to make them to use the new fare structure is proof enough of their recalcitrant attitude. They continue to fleece, and bully, passengers, and park where they wish or where there is space.

        The share-autos then came on the scene. No one noticed them at first, not even the police, who took them to be country cousins of the three-seater. They soon multiplied, and like rabbits. (The permit fee of Rs 350, as per books) was the same for both vehicles.

        The drivers soon became more daring and started carrying more than the permitted three. Three became four and in no time, five, even six. Today one can see office-going people, or families on outings, packed inside these monsters, bursting at the seams, as they speed along throwing caution to the winds and fear into the others on the road.

        Officials put the number of all motorised ricks at a little less than 45,500. 'But a large chunk ply without a permit,' one of them added. The department has not been able to plug the loopholes. 'Because of pressure, from you know where.' he said.

        The clerks have, however, been told to stop issuing them fitness certificates, FCs as they are called. These are to be renewed every year. And this is the time. At any RTO one can see crowds of drivers, a few owners and a large number of touts. The men in charge, it seems, are firm. 'They do not renew our certificates,' said one of the drivers, who plies his share-auto from Law College to MKB Nagar.

        'This time they sound tough, these clerks. They turned down money'. More than one owner said the clerks had refused Rs 10,000, even Rs 15,000, 'something that has never happened till now. that's what's worrying, that's what makes us think the government is serious about getting rid of the share autos.'