Autos, taxis to ply freely in NCR

Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh signed a reciprocal common transport agreement for the free movement of vehicles across the National Capital Region, reports HT Correspondent.

Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday signed a reciprocal common transport agreement for the free movement of vehicles across the National Capital Region (NCR).

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This means taxis and autorickshaws will be able to move freely to any location within NCR, said Urban Development Secretary M. Ramachandran.

The NCR comprises eight districts of Haryana, five districts of U.P., one district of Rajasthan, besides the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The areas include Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rohtak, Sonepat, Rewari, Jhajjar, Mewat and Panipat districts in Haryana, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr and Baghpat in U.P., Alwar district in Rajasthan and Delhi.

"The vehicles plying in the NCR as part of the agreement will conform to Euro III norms and operate on CNG and clean fuel. This will help in reducing pollution," said Sunita Narain, director of Centre for Science and Environment and member, NCR Planning Board.

There will be a colour code and logo for vehicles -- which will be jointly decided by the constituent states of NCR -- so that they are not stopped anywhere in the NCR.

As per the agreement, auto rickshaws and taxis will not be required to pay any additional tax or permit charges.

However, Ramachandran pointed out that contract buses will have to pay passenger tax at the prevailing rates till a uniform tax structure is established by all the constituent states of the NCR.

The number of auto rickshaws will be restricted on the basis of issue of permits by the respective state governments.

The agreement will be implemented as soon as it gets notified.