Cops crack down on share autos

Sunday, Feb 06, 2011




The traffic police on Friday cracked down on the nine-seater Gramin Seva autos across the city for violations ranging from diverting from their assigned routes to plying without driving licence to overcrowding, among others. As many as 323 drivers were issued challans while 110 share autos were impounded. In west Delhi alone, 49 autos were impounded. The transport department has chalked out 61 routes on which these autos can ply. In east Delhi, which has a large number of the Gramin Seva autos operating in Laxmi Nagar, Mother Dairy and IP Extension, only three autos were impounded. Officials claimed that the drive was carried out as many share autos are seen on main arterial roads in violation of the directive.

Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Satyendra Garg said, "We will continue with the drive and keep these autos in check. Overcrowding, driving without licence and plying without a permit can prove very dangerous. We have deployed our staff to check any violations."

Senior traffic officials have stressed time and again that share autos are a menace on the road. These are also responsible for slowing down traffic on arterial roads. Drivers are usually fined Rs 500 and owners Rs 1,000 for not carrying a valid licence. Plying without permit invites a fine of Rs 2,000 while overcrowding can cost Rs 100, said the traffic cops.

As a result of the crackdown, the autos fast disappeared from many areas, specially Rohini. Overcrowding came up as the biggest problem with 132 auto drivers being booked for this offence. Forty-eight drivers were booked for plying without a driving licence.

Auto drivers, however, claimed they were only being helpful as this was the only mode of transport for many locals. Gramin Seva has seen many takers in the city but complaints of blocking main roads and holding up traffic by abruptly stopping in the middle of the road are common.

The nine-seater vehicles, of either Mahindra or Tata Magic make, are a common sight in Kalkaji, Govindpuri, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, BRT corridor and MG Road in south Delhi; and Seelampur, Shakarpur, Mother Dairy Road, IP Extension in east Delhi.

The transport department had charted out specific routes for the share autos, with permits issued strictly against these routes. The 61 routes cater to rural areas where the reach of DTC buses is limited.

Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Cops-crack-down-on-share-autos/articleshow/7433923.cms