Auto, taxi unions to go on strike against small taxi scheme

Angry over introduction of 'City Taxi' scheme announced by Delhi government under which small cars will be allowed to ply on the city's roads, auto and taxi unions today threatened to go on a one-day strike on September two.
Yesterday, transport minister Gopal Rai announced a new scheme -- 'City Taxi' -- under which permits will be issued to 600 cc vehicles which will charge Rs 10 per km.
Rajendra Soni, general secretary of Delhi Auto rickshaw Sangh, said that the new scheme will "snatch" the livelihood of the drivers of auto rickshaws
Soni also said that auto unions can not compromise with the livelihood of drivers and will go on one-day strike on September 2 next month.

"With the introduction of new taxi scheme, there will be competition between auto rickshaws and small taxis which will affect the business of auto drivers in the capital.
"Besides, it will also affect the livelihood of black-yellow taxi drivers," Soni, who is also general secretary of Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, said.

According to the new scheme, vehicles having capacity of 600 cc onwards can register with the government. Until now, only those vehicles which had capacity of 750 cc or more were issued permits.
Licenses will be given to individuals, groups as well as the taxi aggregators. The Delhi government will also allow transfer of permits from Economy Taxi Scheme (2010) to New City Taxi Scheme.

"There were taxi schemes like Radio Taxi Scheme in 2006 and Economy Taxi Scheme in 2010 in Delhi earlier but could not be successful. Present taxi services will be amalgamated in the new taxi scheme. Black and yellow taxi will be retained as it is and also All India Tourist Permit Taxi.
"There is a shortage of taxis in the city and the scheme aims at giving last mile connectivity to the people," Rai had said yesterday said while announcing the scheme.