On-call autos to hit Delhi streets from today

From Saturday, Delhiites will get a three-wheeler just by making a call, even at the gravest of hours thanks to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is launching its G-Auto initiative.

From Saturday, Delhiites will get a three-wheeler just by making a call, even at the gravest of hours thanks to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is launching its G-Auto initiative. The corporation will start off with 50-odd vehicles, which will have GPS facility installed to ensure security of passengers and the rates will be government-approved.

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“An unused community centre in Nandnagri will be used as the call center for the service. Gujarat-based Nirmal Foundation, which will be running the service will pay us Rs 750 per day as rent for the call centre,” a senior East official said.

Similar autorickshaw service is being run in various cities in Gujarat by Nirmal Foundation. “It is running quite successfully and we want to replicate that success model in Delhi, too. We want to revamp the picture of auto-rickshaw travel from an unreliable option to a passenger-friendly and pleasant mode of transport. Now there will be auto-rickshaws at your doorstep round-the-clock at government notified meter-based fares,” he said, adding that the drivers and vehicles, which will be GPS-fit, will form part of a central database at a call centre, making it easy to track and safe especially for women.

“Once it starts, we are expecting more autorickshaw drivers to come forward and register,” the official said.

East civic body mayor Ram Narayan Dubey had earlier told Hindustan Times that the corporation plans to start the service in September. However, the service will be kicked off on Saturday after a few months delay.