Ghaziabad to issue all India permits for new diesel taxis

Officials of the Ghaziabad regional transport department have ordered that permits be issued to new all India tourist diesel taxis in the region.

Officials of the Ghaziabad regional transport department have ordered that permits be issued to new all India tourist diesel taxis in the region. Officials said that the move follows a recent meeting with Environmental Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA), which released the finalised minutes of the May 10 Supreme Court order.

An affidavit, stating that either the pickup or drop point will be outside Delhi-NCR, is mandatory for obtaining a permit. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

In the finalised minutes of May 30 that was later sent to the Ghaziabad regional transport office, the EPCA stated, “regarding Old (O) and New (N) All India Tourist Permit (AITP) taxis, EPCA said permits to diesel AITP are to be issued only on submission of an affidavit that the taxi will not operate for point to point trip within NCR (sic).”

“New registrations were stopped for diesel AITP taxis since the May 10 order of the Supreme Court. Following the minutes by EPCA, we have started issuing new permits to diesel AITP taxis as AITP (N – new). However, we are not renewing old AITP permits for diesel taxis,” Mayank Jyoti, regional transport officer for Ghaziabad region, said.

Under the conditions for new permits, the owner has to submit an affidavit stating either the pickup or drop point will be outside NCR and also installation of a GPS device.

The affidavit is also required from existing AITP permit holders, during yearly authorisation, under the five year term for permits.

EPCA also directed the transport departments of NCR states to submit compliance reports and details of diesel AITP-N taxis registered in NCR every quarter.

The taxi associations’ representatives had requested that permits for AITP (O) should be considered for renewal on conditions for AITP (N) till the normal life of the vehicle.

EPCA asked them to put up their representations before the committee formed by ministry of road transport and highways to formulate the rules for registration of CNG/diesel taxis and operate in compliance with the SC order.

At present, there are nearly 670 buses, 934 jeeps, 1307 maxi-cabs, 521 mini bus, 12 tourist bus, 157 omni and 11,487 motor cabs in Ghaziabad. Motor cabs, generally called taxis, having capacity to seat up to six passengers and a driver.

The Ghaziabad regional transport department holds jurisdiction of Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Bulandshahr and Hapur districts.