Service no more, thanks to cops
8 May 2012 12:13 AM GMT
It's been a year since Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had started Gramin Sewa Tata vans meant to simplify commuting and make life easier for locals living in the interiors of Delhi. But trust Delhi Traffic Police to come up with obstructions. Gramin Sewa auto drivers are not allowed to ply on their designated routes, they allege, unless they bribe the cops.
'Gramin Sewa van drivers plying on one of the designated routes, Jaitpur-Kalindikunj, face this problem, particularly,' said the sources. To make matters worse, the cops allow Uttar Pradesh registered auto-rickshaws to ply in Delhi, which is illegal.
Many Gramin Sewa owners agree that such a problem exist.
According to Sunil, 28, a Gramin Sewa van owner, resident of southeast Delhi, Delhi Traffic Police would not allow him to ride his auto on route number 79 if he refused to pay up. 'But more than 150 autos bearing UP number are being allowed to run freely on the same route because they bribe the Delhi Traffic Police officers,' he added.
Vicky, 30, another owner of a Gramin Sewa van, said that Delhi government had launched 7,000 Gramin Sewa vans on Delhi roads and 34 Gramin Sewa vans licenses were approved to run on route number 79, with a seating capacity of six passengers, each. These Gramin Sewa vans cater to the people in rural areas, unauthorised and resettled colonies and J J clusters of Delhi.
According to Delhi Government rules, the autos should be granted contract carriage permit as per the provision in Motor Vehicle Act.
Sunil, explaining the distinction between Gramin Sewa and other autos, added that the colour of the vehicle registered under Gramin Sewa scheme should be white and it should have two horizontal stripes in the middle of the vehicle, of 75 mm each, one in light blue and another in green with inscription of Gramin Sewa in between the horizontal stripes.
When contacted Prem Nath, Additional Delhi Commissioner of Police, South-East, said that necessary action is being taken to check unauthorised autos in state. 'We are working on it for the past one year. Many autos were already seized. We would again take strict action.'
'Gramin Sewa van drivers plying on one of the designated routes, Jaitpur-Kalindikunj, face this problem, particularly,' said the sources. To make matters worse, the cops allow Uttar Pradesh registered auto-rickshaws to ply in Delhi, which is illegal.
Many Gramin Sewa owners agree that such a problem exist.
According to Sunil, 28, a Gramin Sewa van owner, resident of southeast Delhi, Delhi Traffic Police would not allow him to ride his auto on route number 79 if he refused to pay up. 'But more than 150 autos bearing UP number are being allowed to run freely on the same route because they bribe the Delhi Traffic Police officers,' he added.
Vicky, 30, another owner of a Gramin Sewa van, said that Delhi government had launched 7,000 Gramin Sewa vans on Delhi roads and 34 Gramin Sewa vans licenses were approved to run on route number 79, with a seating capacity of six passengers, each. These Gramin Sewa vans cater to the people in rural areas, unauthorised and resettled colonies and J J clusters of Delhi.
According to Delhi Government rules, the autos should be granted contract carriage permit as per the provision in Motor Vehicle Act.
Sunil, explaining the distinction between Gramin Sewa and other autos, added that the colour of the vehicle registered under Gramin Sewa scheme should be white and it should have two horizontal stripes in the middle of the vehicle, of 75 mm each, one in light blue and another in green with inscription of Gramin Sewa in between the horizontal stripes.
When contacted Prem Nath, Additional Delhi Commissioner of Police, South-East, said that necessary action is being taken to check unauthorised autos in state. 'We are working on it for the past one year. Many autos were already seized. We would again take strict action.'
Next Story
