Delhi govt warning to autorickshaws on GPS installation issue

Delhi government today warned the auto-rickshaw drivers against fleecing commuters and asked them to install GPS devices on their vehicles at the earliest.
Around 60,000 auto-rickshaws are operating in the city without GPS devices despite repeated directive from the Transport department to do so.
At a meeting, Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami asked senior officials of his department to take strong action aginst the auto-rickshaw drivers who fleece commuters.
The Minister also directed them to ensure installation of GPS devices in all auto-rickshaws so that their movements can be tracked.
While hiking auto fares in June 2010, the government had added a component in the fare to help auto-rickshaw unions meet the expenditure for GPS installation.

The Delhi High Court had in September last year rejected the plea by auto-rickshaw unions opposing the government's notification for installation of GPS in the three wheelers.

In today's meeting, Goswami asked his department to educate the public about GPS system installed in around 25,000 auto-rickshaws which were given permits in the last six months.
"People should be informed about various facilities available in GPS system specially the 'trip start' and 'trip end' system which is helpful in working out the chargeable fare. It was also decided that auto rickshaws which are not keeping their GPS system in 'switch-on' mode should be issued notice for cancellation of their permits," said Goswami.

The Minister constituted a committee comprising senior officials of his department to file a report on pre-paid auto-rickshaw booths, monitoring and analysis of GPS data and overall running of auto-rickshaws in the city.
The government had hiked auto and taxi fares by 25 per cent two weeks ago.