18 taxis impounded for over-charging

“We impounded 18 vehicles of Ola and Uber yesterday (Monday) for over-charging and permit violation,” Rai told reporters here. 

“The action was taken after commuters complained on the helpline provided by the Delhi government,” Rai said. 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday threatened “strict action” in the wake of complaints of “surge pricing”, a technique used by the cab aggregators to hike the fares due to higher demand. 

The Delhi government had said the erring taxis would be impounded and their drivers’ licences seized. After Kejriwal’s threat, Uber and Ola suspended their surge pricing. 

Monday was the first full working day after the start of the second round of the odd-even traffic scheme which forced many motorists who did not use their cars to go for taxis.

Under the odd-even scheme, which is aimed at battling pollution, petrol and diesel driven vehicles with even registration numbers can ply only on even dates and those with odd numbers on odd dates. 

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said the compliance rate of the odd-even traffic scheme was “very good” on Monday, with fewer challans issued to violators.

The fifth day of the Delhi government’s odd-even traffic scheme saw Rai declaring it a “success story so far” even as online app-based taxi operator Uber sought to blame the Delhi government for shortage of its cars. On its part, the Delhi Police continued its vigil against those violating the odd-even restriction, booking 195 car drivers, while the transport department separately booked 372 violators.

In a related development, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed as “bizarre” the reports that pollution levels in the city had increased despite fewer number of vehicles plying on the roads. But, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), under the Union government’s ministry of Earth Sciences, said the pollution level was high on Tuesday as compared to Monday. However, Rai was happy with the progress of the odd-even. Making a veiled attack on political rivals, especially the BJP, Rai said: “People of Delhi have given an answer to those who wanted to sabotage the odd-even scheme aimed at battling pollution”.