Delhi govt to approach SC for more auto-rickshaw permits
1 May 2013 6:57 AM IST
The Delhi government has decided to approach the Supreme Court to remove the limit on the number of permits issued to three-wheeled scooter rickshaw (TSR) in Delhi as there is no such restriction on the registration of any other kind of vehicle. The restriction on the number of permits issued to TSRs has resulted in commuters suffering from a shortage of auto-rickshaws in the national capital, says the government.
Delhi transport minister Ramakant Goswami on Tuesday informed the media, ‘The transport department has been receiving representations from the public to grant more permits to TSRs in order to cater to the increasing number of commuters.’
On 16 December, 1997, the Supreme Court had barred the city government from issuing new auto permits. Among the reasons given was the growing air pollution, which was worsening because of pollution from two and four-stroke petrol engines used in auto-rickshaws. After 14 years, on 12 November, 2011, the Supreme Court had permitted 45,000 more TSRs to ply on Delhi roads.
‘Now The Delhi government feels the need to grant permits to more TSR. Also, no pollution hazard is feared from TSRs, as autos today run on CNG, a clean fuel,’ said the minister.
Gowami further stated that the Supreme Court had allowed permission to grant additional 45,000 permits out of which 3,000 were kept unallocated. The department has since decided to grant permit in respect of unallocated share of TSR in earlier determined proportion.
The permits would be exclusively released to TSR buyers who have already bought the TSR but could not get registered due to delay in logistics. The department has also decided to take strict action against TSR dealers who have sold TSR to people without caring about non-availability of quota. As sufficient number of permits are available in the reserved category and number of takers are very less the department has decided to give sufficient publicity to invite them to avail of the quota provided to them.
Goswami expressed hope that these step would go a long way in overcoming shortage of TSRs in Delhi.
Delhi transport minister Ramakant Goswami on Tuesday informed the media, ‘The transport department has been receiving representations from the public to grant more permits to TSRs in order to cater to the increasing number of commuters.’
On 16 December, 1997, the Supreme Court had barred the city government from issuing new auto permits. Among the reasons given was the growing air pollution, which was worsening because of pollution from two and four-stroke petrol engines used in auto-rickshaws. After 14 years, on 12 November, 2011, the Supreme Court had permitted 45,000 more TSRs to ply on Delhi roads.
‘Now The Delhi government feels the need to grant permits to more TSR. Also, no pollution hazard is feared from TSRs, as autos today run on CNG, a clean fuel,’ said the minister.
Gowami further stated that the Supreme Court had allowed permission to grant additional 45,000 permits out of which 3,000 were kept unallocated. The department has since decided to grant permit in respect of unallocated share of TSR in earlier determined proportion.
The permits would be exclusively released to TSR buyers who have already bought the TSR but could not get registered due to delay in logistics. The department has also decided to take strict action against TSR dealers who have sold TSR to people without caring about non-availability of quota. As sufficient number of permits are available in the reserved category and number of takers are very less the department has decided to give sufficient publicity to invite them to avail of the quota provided to them.
Goswami expressed hope that these step would go a long way in overcoming shortage of TSRs in Delhi.
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