DTC loses lakhs courtesy cops
11 Feb 2013 6:26 AM IST
Unauthorised free travelling by Delhi Police and paramilitary forces personnel in auto-rickshaws and DTC buses has become a regular practice. Even though DTC head office and auto unions have repeatedly urged the security forces to correct the situation, all requests seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
In September 2012, Delhi government had made it clear that if Delhi Police personnel wanted to travel in autos and buses, they would have to purchase proper tickets and give proper fare. The scenario, however, has remained pretty much the same.
‘Delhi police has a strength of around 60,000 personnel. The loss to DTC and autos every day is over lakhs. Over 90 per cent of Delhi police employees still travel without paying any fare in these vehicles,’ said S P Singh, researcher, Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training, (IFTRT).
‘As Delhi Metro does not allow ticketless travelling, police personnel prefer buses and autos,’ he added.
‘A few days ago, a Traffic official asked me to drop him at Lajpat Nagar, even as I was carrying another passenger. He then got off without paying any fare,’ said Ram Joshi, an auto driver in the capital.
‘We feel scared to take on the official. If they ask to be dropped, we drop them. Otherwise, they challan us,’ said another auto driver.
‘Many steps have been taken by the Transport department to stop the menace but all in vain,’ said Singh.
According to the officials of DTC and auto union members in the capital, a letter was sent to Delhi police and paramilitary forces, urging them to take steps to curb the menace.
When the issue was discussed last year for the first time between the two departments, Delhi police had asked for record showing cops travelling free of charge.
DTC has a total of 5,513 buses, carrying 40 lakh passengers daily, and there are around 70,000 autos in the capital.
In September 2012, Delhi government had made it clear that if Delhi Police personnel wanted to travel in autos and buses, they would have to purchase proper tickets and give proper fare. The scenario, however, has remained pretty much the same.
‘Delhi police has a strength of around 60,000 personnel. The loss to DTC and autos every day is over lakhs. Over 90 per cent of Delhi police employees still travel without paying any fare in these vehicles,’ said S P Singh, researcher, Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training, (IFTRT).
‘As Delhi Metro does not allow ticketless travelling, police personnel prefer buses and autos,’ he added.
‘A few days ago, a Traffic official asked me to drop him at Lajpat Nagar, even as I was carrying another passenger. He then got off without paying any fare,’ said Ram Joshi, an auto driver in the capital.
‘We feel scared to take on the official. If they ask to be dropped, we drop them. Otherwise, they challan us,’ said another auto driver.
‘Many steps have been taken by the Transport department to stop the menace but all in vain,’ said Singh.
According to the officials of DTC and auto union members in the capital, a letter was sent to Delhi police and paramilitary forces, urging them to take steps to curb the menace.
When the issue was discussed last year for the first time between the two departments, Delhi police had asked for record showing cops travelling free of charge.
DTC has a total of 5,513 buses, carrying 40 lakh passengers daily, and there are around 70,000 autos in the capital.
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