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RTA confused if autos come under ‘city taxi’
The regional transport authority (RTA), Gurgaon, has decided to stop registration of diesel-run taxis after a Supreme Court directive but the term “city taxis” in the official order lacks clarity, meaning the implementation has been put on hold.
The regional transport authority (RTA), Gurgaon, has decided to stop registration of diesel-run taxis after a Supreme Court directive but the term “city taxis” in the official order lacks clarity, meaning the implementation has been put on hold.
The RTA is confused whether diesel-run autorickshaws are covered under the category “city taxis”.
Following the SC directive, officials feel a large number of diesel autorickshaws that operate in the city should also be curbed.
“After receiving the order to stop fresh registration of diesel-run city taxis from higher transport authorities, the officials here are in confusion whether autorickshaws are considered as taxis. The staff have been directed to clarify the point,” an RTA official said.
More than 13,000 diesel and 750 petrol cabs operate in Gurgaon every day. In the absence of an efficient public transport network, the city relies on autorickshaws. There are about 25,000 registered autorickshaws in Gurgaon of which 13,000 run on CNG and about 12,000 on diesel.
“We are studying the order. City taxi must be covering autorickshaws but we want to be sure before implementing the order,” RTA secretary Jitender Kumar said.
Following an SC orders last year, the district administration had banned the registration of diesel luxury cars of 2000CC and above in the state’s NCR districts till March 31, 2016. The move was aimed at gradually phasing out all diesel vehicles from NCR roads.
SC-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority had directed seven districts of Haryana and UP to stop registering autorickshaws, taxis and buses that run on the cheaper fuel with immediate effect.
The RTA secretary asked the staff to study the 2015 implementation directives for further clarity on the matter.
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