Autos threat strike from April 25

Thousands of auto-rickshaw drivers are planning to go on strike from April 25, demanding that the government should pay for installing Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments in their vehicles.

Thousands of auto-rickshaw drivers are planning to go on strike from April 25, demanding that the government should pay for installing Global Positioning System (GPS) instruments in their vehicles.

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The government has made it mandatory for autorickshaw owners to get GPS installed in their vehicles to bring down instances of overcharging and route deviations. "The cost of installing a GPS instrument is Rs15,000, plus there is an annual maintenance charge of Rs8,000. We cannot afford it. The government should pay for it," said Sobharan Singh, president, Bharatiya Tipahiya Chalak Sangh.

In 2010, the government said permits of three-wheelers will be cancelled if GPS was not installed. The transport department recen-tly asked the auto owners to install GPS as soon as possible.