"Since the autorickshaw drivers do not have exact knowledge about the radio rickshaw plan, some of their representatives met us last week and showed their unwillingness to work for the scheme, as it involved additional financial burden on them," RTA member Baba Shinde said.

"As a result of this opposition from the stakeholders, we have now started finding sponsors, who can bear the financial burden on behalf of the rickshaw drivers. The autowallahs will not have to spend even a rupee on the equipment, as it will be provided directly by a sponsor. We are looking for such agencies and within a week's time, the intricacies will be resolved," he said.

In August last year, the RTA took a decision to introduce the phone-a-cab service in the city. In the last week of January, it went a step further and also approved a proposal to introduce radio autorickshaws. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has been appointed as the monitoring authority for controlling the system required for this service.