Protesting against the provisions of the ‘Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014’, auto-rickshaw and taxi operators have decided to go on a one-day strike in the Capital on April 30.
The auto and taxi operators said the government has proposed to increase the amount of penalty on the violation of traffic and motor vehicle rules manifold, which, they argued, will have impact their livelihoods.
Delhi Auto-rickshaw Sangh general secretary Rajendra Soni said all major auto-rickshaw and taxi unions have joined hands for the strike on April
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“If the government does not pay heed to our demands and refuses to reduce the penalties, we will go on an indefinite strike. The transport unions from across the country are with us in our battle and the government’s indifference will cripple public transport in the entire country in the days to come,” Mr. Soni said.
Delhi has close to 90,000 auto-rickshaws and 6,000 taxis (black and yellow), which supplement to the city’s public transport system.
Soni said the auto-rickshaw and taxi unions are also unhappy with Delhi government’s inaction to solve the GPS issue. Soni said the auto and taxi operators are forced to spend Rs13,000 on installation and Rs 2,700 annually on maintenance of GPS devices, which serve no purpose to provide safety and security passengers.
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“The AAP government had promised to reduce the price of the GPS device by inviting more competition. But nothing has happened so far,” Mr. Soni added.
The auto and taxi operators are also demanding taking away the powers to impound their vehicle given to the traffic police under section 66/192A of the Delhi motor vehicle rules, which, they alleged, has become a tool of corruption and harassment.