Autowallahs to be issued badges; driving training to become mandatory
Autowallahs to be issued badges; driving training to become mandatory
They emit lesser smoke but are synonymous with nuisance on road; considered pocket-friendly for lesser fares than taxis, they are known for mugging the customers. Delhi autowallahs have a very strong reputation to beat.
But, thanks to the Commonwealth Games, it seems that the city government has chalked out a concrete strategy to make the city auto drivers toe the line set for them by the transport department.
In yet another bid to rein them in, the department has launched a fresh exercise to re-issue the badges to auto drivers so that only those who 'deserve' to have badges and licenses remain on the road.
While issuing these badges, the transport department is going to ensure those having previous criminal records or have been involved in frequent accidents should not get the identity cards. The licences of those who are not residents of Delhi will also not be renewed. The department is also going to make the renewal of both the licence and badge of the auto drivers, simultaneously after every three years.u00a0
u00a0"We are issuing the commercial licenses and badges to all the commercial license holders in the city, including auto drivers afresh. The exercise has been launched and will be completed before the Commonwealth Games," said the official.
This is to ensure to improve the public transport system and weed out the troublemakers, added the official.
"Every auto driver will get a fresh badge before the games are held in 2010. A drive will be launched just before the Games to take stock of the situation. If anybody is found commuting without the badge, his licence will be cancelled," said the official.
There are over 55,000 auto drivers in the city. Other 20,000 are involved in driving buses, taxis and other modes of commercial transport.u00a0
The officials say as per the new guidelines, the auto driver will have to ask his zonal office where he is residing to issue him a fresh badge. "Badge will be issued only after verifying his address of residence. Also in every case we are asking the deputy commissioner of police concerned zone to send a report on his antecedents and confirm his address. Apart from that we will note down addresses of two witnesses for future references who are known to him," said the official.
"The auto drivers will also have to go under training at the Institute for Driving Training and Research once in every three year before renewal of their license,' he said.
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