In what seems to be an indication of declining interest in operating auto rickshaws, given the increasing popularity of cabs attached to aggregations services, only 9,700 applicants have submitted their documents for 10,000 auto permits to be allotted by the Delhi Transport Department.
The department had issued a list of 11,227 eligible applicants who were asked to submit requisite documents for issuance of permits in their name at the Burari Transport Authority till September 10, but only 9,700 applicants turned up to submit their documents by the deadline.
Auto union leaders lamented declining business allegedly due to the growing popularity of cab aggregators.
“The cab aggregators have spoiled our business. They are operating without any registration and have taken a chunk of passengers who would otherwise use autos,” said Rajender Soni, general secretary of the Delhi Pradesh Autorickshaw Sangh.
‘Number to go down’
Services such as shared rides, offered by cab aggregators, are also narrowing opportunities for auto drivers, he added.
Cab aggregation services, according to their own admission, have registered massive growth in number of passengers in the past one year in Delhi.A senior government official said that the number of applicants for auto permits was likely to go down further after screening of documents and possible rejections on grounds of either being incomplete or incorrect.
