The Dhanbad district administration has decided to allow only 2,500 auto-rickshaws to ply within the town as a part of a comprehensive plan to decongest traffic in the coal capital.

At a meeting with auto-rickshaw associations here on Tuesday, it was agreed that the movement of three-wheelers _ there are over 20,000 operating in Dhanbad district _ would be regulated according to a set of norms, discussions on which were on with drivers over the last two months.

As per the new rules, auto drivers would have to adhere to a dress code and carry valid licences as well all requisite vehicle papers. Autos would operate within 15 routes and stop only at designated pick-up and drop points in Dhanbad.

Each route would have a designated code which will have to be displayed prominently on the three-wheeler, namely, on the windscreen and in the side.

The new rules will come into effect from September 16.

The district administration's move comes less than four day after the imposition of a ban on the entry of all passenger buses and other heavy vehicles in to the town.

Talking to the media after Tuesday's meeting, district transport officer of Dhanbad Om Prakash Yadav said, “We have taken several crucial decisions as per which the number of autos entering Dhanbad town from different routes has been restricted to 2,500 only from existing 8,000.”

To achieve this, he said, each route had been divided into several parts. For example, an auto till now running between Patherdih and Dhanbad would have to turn back from Jharia instead of coming all the way to Dhanbad.

"There will be other autos to transport passengers from Jharia to Dhanbad," he explained.

Yadav said that the process of identifying designated auto stops was also launched on Tuesday in the presence of officials of the motor vehicle department.