New Delhi: Commuters in several areas in
the capital had to face a harrowing time as thousands of
auto-rickshaw drivers went on a strike protesting the city
government`s decision of making it mandatory installation of
GPS in the three-wheelers.
In an effort to rein in the auto drivers, who are
known for overcharging, the city government has issued an
order asking all autorickshaw owners to install GPS in their
vehicles so as to ensure that they run on metres and do not
overcharge.
The auto unions said they are not opposed to
installation of GPS but the cost of the equipment must be
borne by the government. A GPS system cost in the range of Rs
10,000 to Rs 15,000.
"We are not against the GPS. But the cost of it has to
be borne by the government," said Rakesh Chandra, general
secretary of Auto Drivers Welfare Union.
Commuters in South and East Delhi were hit hard by the
strike.
"I generally commute by autos. It was really very
difficult get an auto this morning. I had to wait for almost
35 minutes to get an auto near Nizamuddin area," said Sukanya
Bose, a resident of Nizamuddin West.
A transport department official claimed that there was
"very little impact" of the strike as a few auto unions had
extended support to the strike.
The city government, while announcing the hike in auto
fares in June last year, had declared that permits of
three-wheelers will be cancelled if Global Positioning System
(GPS) was not installed in the vehicles.
Transport department had recently asked the auto
owners to install GPS as soon as possible.
PTI
