With the Delhi Traffic Police tightening the noose around diesel-run cabs plying in Delhi-NCR, taxi unions hit the streets protesting against the alleged harassment.
On Monday, the first working da
y after the Supreme Court refused to extend the deadline for diesel-run taxis in the national capital to switch to CNG, over 140 cabs were fined and 30 impounded.
Sanjay Samrat, president of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association (DTTTA), accompanied by BJP leader, Vijender Gupta, met Delhi Police commissioner Alok Verma to discuss the problems faced by diesel taxi drivers who have the All India Tourist Permit (AITP).
“When the Supreme Court has exempted the AITP drivers, then why were our drivers challaned and their cars impounded? We raised our concerns with the police commissioner. He has assured us that starting Tuesday no AITP driver will be fined,” Samrat said.
Officials from the Delhi government’s transport department, however, said the crackdown would continue till separate orders were issued.
Samrat said on Tuesday if the police continued to fine and impound cabs, they would intensify their agitation.
Gupta, who was present in the meeting, said that these drivers were victims of the inaction and apathy of the Delhi government.
“These drivers are suffering for no fault of their own. Most of these drivers have taken heavy loans to buy their vehicles. Now they are finding it difficult to survive and earn their livelihood. It is the moral responsibility of the Delhi Government to rehabilitate them,” he said.
