03 December,2009 07:03 AM IST | | Amit Singh
Delhi High Court pulls up traffic police and government for not demarcating areas for even one autorickshaw stand. City needs about 2,000 such slots
The next time you scream at an autorickshaw driver for overcharging, remember he is not solely responsible for the mess. May be even the neighbourhood cop is involved in this racket. And if insiders are to be believed, the problem starts right at the autorickshaw parking stands.
Delhi needs about 2,300 autorickshaw stands, where drivers can park their vehicles to wait for passengers. But it doesn't have even one. In 2004, the Delhi traffic police said it would notify areas for 314 auto stands. However, even after five years, there are no signs of the stands.
The traffic cops have instead passed on the blame to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) andu00a0 the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
However, the absence of auto stands hasn't gone unnoticed and the Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Transport Department and the traffic police about the issue.
Notice this
Admitting a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Rakesh Agarwal, the secretary of an NGO called NyayaBhoomi, a bench comprising Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice Dr S Muralidhar issued notices to the Delhi government on several issues concerning auto drivers. The PIL quoted Rule 76 of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, which empowers the Delhi government to notify autorickshaw stands.
The PIL stated that though there is a requirement for 2,300 autorickshaw stands in the city, the government has failed to notify even a single one. It pointed out that every autorickshaw stand in the city is illegal and the police extort money from drivers who park their vehicles there.
"The traffic police have no legal power to notify auto stands as such power lies with the Delhi government. The addresses given for the notified stands are also vague. For example, no location is specified for the stands notified at Katwaria Sarai, Central Market at Lajpat Nagar, the parking lot at Nehru Place," said Agarwal.
The government has to file its reply before the next date of hearing on January 13, 2010.
Badge to drive
The PIL also sought relief from challans being issued to auto drivers for non-possession of badges. The PIL said the Transport Department has not issued even a single badge in more than a year because of a problem with the software. Yet, auto drivers are challaned regularly and the fine was hiked from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000 last year.
666
Is the number of stands Pune has for a lesser number of autorickshaws as opposed to Delhi
