Other States - New Delhi   

Govt. willing to increase auto fares: CM

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI DEC. 23. Striking a positive tone, much to the relief of the striking autorickshaw operators, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, today declared that her Government is willing to increase the fares but the autorickshaw union leaders would first have to give and publicise a written undertaking that they would run by functional electronic meters and not fleece the passengers.

Addressing a press conference, Ms. Dikshit said the report of the Expert Fare Committee is expected to be submitted by Tuesday and then it would be considered by the State Council of Ministers.

But before all this happens, the autorickshaw unions and the striking operators would have to call off the strike and give an undertaking that they will abide by the rules and regulations.

She said that a number of measures were being thought of by the Government to streamline the running of autorickshaws in the Capital and these would be unveiled during the next few months.

Ruling out any compromise on getting a fair deal for the lakhs of commuters, Ms. Dikshit said any fare hike by the Cabinet would be considered and announced only after the protest is called off.

This kind of blackmail and holding the city to ransom would not be allowed and the Government will not succumb to pressure from any lobby as people's interest was involved here.

The pledge to run by the electronic meters would have to be publicised by the various unions so that they are morally bound to run their vehicles by rules and proper equipment.

The Chief Minister said that the Transport Minister, Ajay Maken, would be holding talks with the union leaders and hoped that they would see reason and stop this blackmail. As such the Government has made elaborate arrangements to deal with the situation and DTC was running buses from important points and destinations to counter the shortage of autorickshaws.

The Transport Minister said that he had been personally travelling in the city buses for the past two days to take a first hand review of the situation. Mr. Maken, who began his campaign from the New Delhi Railway Station, said that DTC buses and Rural Transport Vehicles (RTVs) would be deployed at those points where there is more shortage of autorickshaws. Even private vehicle owners have been allowed to pick up passengers and operate as taxis to counter the situation.

At the same time, Mr. Maken informed that the government would soon begin the process of registration of new autorickshaws for which broad guidelines were being framed by the Transport Department.

In order to ensure that the cartel of autorickshaw owners do not once again gobble up a major chunk of the 5,000 autorickshaws, it had been decided that certain conditions like production of a domicile, proof of residence and basic educational qualifications would be imposed on the new operators apart from the condition that they should be badge holders of the Transport Department.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Govt. willing to increase auto fares: CM
• More auto drivers hit the roads
• Congress fails to gain the upper hand
• Sheila rules out division of Delhi for Statehood

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu