CM pays surprise visit to Burari Transport Authority

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday paid a surprise visit to the Transport Authority office in Burari, four days after the entry of any unauthorised persons was officially banned in the premises of auto-rickshaw and taxi-unit of the office.

The CM's visit came after several complaints of unauthorised people visiting the office frequently despite the ban were received.

According to a Delhi government order, only owners or permit holders of auto-rickshaws and taxis, including designated employees of authorised dealers, will be allowed to enter the premises.

Kejriwal warned the Transport Department officials of strict action if the problem was not solved.

"Complaints were received that work gets done quickly through touts, otherwise it lingers for months. The fitness test centres for vehicles will be opened across the city by next month,'' said a senior officer of the department.

The official also assured that outsourcing and decentralisation proposal has been prepared and final approval to open fitness test center across the city would be granted soon.

When the Supreme Court had allowed to increase auto-rickshaw permit from Rs. 55,000 to one lakh, the Transport Department had issued a circular on August 8, 2012.

Kejriwal said that it is the primary responsibility of the head of the Department to ensure integrity in its functioning.

The department is headed by Principal Secretary-cum-Commissioner Varsha Joshi.

Contrarty to claims by many people, Joshi denied any sort of corruption in the functioning of the Burari Regional Transport Office.