Imphal, 12 July 2016 ( Evening News) : Transport Directorate and Traffic Police have jointly launched a drive against illegally operated diesel and petrol auto-rickshaws to ease the traffic volume in Greater Imphal areas. The auto-rickshaws plying on Nagamapal and Bir Tikendrajit roads were checked by one by one by a team led by  inspector of State Transport Authority Thiyam Dinachandra if they had the necessary documents and modified the vehicles. They seized the over loaded auto-rickshaws and fined them. Thiyam Dinachandra told media persons that as per decision of the state cabinet to check the ever increasing traffic volume in Imphal areas, the dept has stopped issue of licence to Diesel and Petrol  Auto-rickshaws, Tata Magic, Winger and Cruiser from July 19, 2013. He said according to the records of the department, the number of Diesel and Petrol Auto-rickshaws in Greater Imphal is about 4 thousand but the dept has received reports that the number of auto-rickshaws on the roads far exceeds the number in official records. He said picking up of passengers at unauthorised parkings by auto-rickshaws in Imphal Cityhas caused serious inconveniences to the people on the busy roads. He also appealed to the people to strictly follow the traffic rules while driving and extend cooperation to the measures taken by the department to ensure safety on the road.