With the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh calling for an auto and taxi strike in Delhi on Tuesday on the issue of installation of GPS in the vehicles, the Delhi Government on Monday went into overdrive to make the protest toothless by roping in 14 auto unions to keep their vehicles on the roads and announcing extra deployment of Delhi Transport Corporation buses during the day.
The Delhi Government said in view of the “auto-rickshaw and taxi strike” called by some auto-taxi unions, main among them being the BMS led by Rajinder Soni, the Delhi Transport Corporation has made all arrangements to clear the extra rush of commuters.
Delhi Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami said the Depot Managers and Regional Managers have been directed to ensure maximum out-shedding of buses so that passengers could reach their destinations easily.
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He said the DTC will deploy extra buses across the city and in particular focus on services at the railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, airport and hospitals.
The Government also held discussions with a delegation of Rashtriya Rajdhani Kshetra Tipahiyaa Chalak Union Delhi which is affiliated to the All-Indian Trade Union Congress and got the support of 14 unions who avowed to keep their vehicles on the roads during the “strike’’.
The Delhi Government said the associations which would be plying their vehicles include the Delhi Auto Rickshaw Driver Welfare Congress, Rastravadi Janata Tipahiyaa Chalak Union, Janshakti Tipahiyaa Taxi Chalak Sangh and Auto Taxi Chalak Sewa. A delegation of these unions led by Ram Sharan Rajput said they would keep away from the strike during the festive season.
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The Minister while lauding their gesture assured the unions that their genuine demands would be addressed to their satisfaction within a fortnight.
Meanwhile, Kishen Verma of All Delhi Auto-Taxi Transporters Congress Union claimed that the strike had been called by those who are hand in glove with the “auto financing lobby’’. “When the autos are sold at a premium, they do not make a noise. All they want to do is hold the government to ransom. This is not the right approach. Last year we had organised a big fast on the issue of installation of GPS and got its rate reduced from Rs.15,000 to Rs.7,500. If there is an issue at hand, it should be settled across the table first,’’ Mr. Verma said.