Autos, taxis with 2-yr shelf life left exempted from GPS rule

In a major relief to their owners, autorickshaws and taxis in the city, having completed 13 years on the road, have been exempted from installation of the Global Positioning System (GPS), by the Delhi government.
Last month, the government made mandatory installation of GPS in all public vehicles plying in the national capital, in view of passengers' safety, especially women.
According to norms laid down by the transport department, autorickshaws and taxis can ply for 15 years (of their age) on city's roads, and thereafter, they are not allowed by the department and traffic police.
"We have given a two-year exemption to all autorickshaws and taxis, which have completed 13 years on the road, from installing GPS. This move will provide a major relief to the owners of these vehicles," a senior government official said.

The official also said that department and traffic police will not take any action against such taxis and autorickshaws for not having the GPS.
Due to a recent government's decision to make the device mandatory for all public vehicles, drivers of taxis and auto-rickshaws were protesting the move, saying, vehicles which have completed 13 years on the road, should be exempted from installation of such device for the remaining two years of their lives.
However, auto and taxi unions have demanded to give exemption to all aged vehicles.
"The Arvind Kejriwal's government should also provide relief to taxis and autorickshaws to all types of aged vehicles," General Secretary of Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, Rajendra Soni, said.