Gramin Sewa autos barred inside city in public interest: Govt

The city government has told the Delhi High Court that the decision to bar 'Gramin Sewa' auto rickshaws from plying inside city areas was taken in the "larger interest of public and road safety".
The state Transport Department, however, said so far, the decision has not been implemented and hence, the plea of auto rickshaw owners was "premature" and be dismissed.
"The resolution restricting Gramin Sewa operation beyond Outer Ring Road was taken after due discussion in the State Transport Authority board meeting in the larger interest of public and road safety," the affidavit, filed by Yogesh Pratap, Deputy Secretary of STA, said.

The submissions were made in the affidavit filed before a bench of Justice Manmohan which had earlier sought a response from the department on the plea of Gramin Sewa Vehicle Owner Welfare Association seeking quashing of the decision to bar 'Gramin Sewa' auto rickshaws from plying inside city areas.
The Route Rationalisation Committee of STA had on August 12 last year, taken a decision on the routes of Gramin Sewa auto rickshaws and decided that they will be allowed to operate only in those areas which fall outside the Outer Ring Road in the national capital.
The Association, in its plea, had said "issue a writ of certiorari seeking quashing of impugned public notification by respondents terminating the Gramin Sewa routes...".

It said the decision to allow the autos to ply only outside the Outer Ring Road will deny them the right to earn the livelihood and hence be quashed.
Delhi government had on June 17, 2010 allowed such autos to ply for five years on various routes, especially in rural areas where there is either poor or no service offered by Delhi Transport Corporation.