Delhi transport dept provides alternative website after heavy traffic for assistance

A heavy traffic of para-transit vehicle drivers flooded transport department website on the first day of submitting application for Delhi government's scheme of one-time financial assistance of Rs 5,000, on Monday.

The heavy traffic forced the department to provide an alternative website link -- pucc.delhi.gov.in -- for the applicants.

The city government has announced giving Rs 5,000 as one-time financial assistance to drivers of para-transit vehicles including autos, taxis and e-rickshaws, forced to sit at home due to lockdown.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot appealed to the drivers to cooperate in bringing down the traffic on the department's website, saying the applications can be submitted for next 15 days.

"As there is still heavy traffic on transport department's website, so an alternative is being provided. The para-transit vehicle drivers are urged to use this link for submitting applications," he said.

Gahlot said he was monitoring the whole exercise and assured to ensure that everyone could fill their applications.

The minister said 731 applications were received by this afternoon.

The heavy traffic started immediately after the process for online submission of forms started this morning. By 11 AM, 231 applications were submitted.

Some auto and taxi unions complained about the website response to be slow and also raised the issue of old public service vehicle(PSV) badges being not recognised in submitting application.

"The lifetime PSV badges were issued before the chip-enabled badges were issued around 2010. Now these old badges held by around 30,000 drivers are not being recognised in doing online application," said Anuj Rathor, secretary of Rashtriya Rajdhani Kshetra Auto Drivers Union.

The assistance will be given to drivers of auto-rickshaws, taxis, Gramin Sewa, Phatphat Sewa, maxi cab, eco-friendly Sewa, E-Rickshaws and school cabs having valid, current PSV badges and driving licenses, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday.

The passenger transport services in Delhi have been stopped to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions are in force since the announcement of the lockdown.

The benefit will be given to all such PSV badge holders who have been issued such badges till March 23 this year. Further, in case of persons whose driving licences have expired on or after February 1, 2020, their cases will also be considered for grant of benefit.

The one-time ex-gratia amount of Rs 5,000 will be given through an on-line software developed by the government. The applicants will require to furnish - PSV badge number, driving licence number, mobile number, date of birth, gender,Aaadhar number-linked with bank account- in the form.