Bypassing orders of the high court that prohibited their registration, most of the auto-rickshaws, running on diesel are now using permits meant for taxis to ply in the city.
The HT has learnt that auto agency dealers allegedly in collusion with the officers at district transport office (DTO) have found a way to steer clear of the court directions and instead show autos as taxis in documents.
Sources told HT that agency owners in connivance with the district transport office are showing the three-seater rickshaws as five seater taxis in papers to get those registered as taxis from the DTO.
What's more, although as per norms, taxis cannot pick up passengers at random from the road, the autos have been doing just that. Also, all seats of the taxi are required to have seat belts and doors for the safety of passengers, which the autos clearly lack.
The state transport commissioner has issued a notification in this context and asked the district transport officer to repulse the autos out of the city.
However, the district transport officer has yet to take any action against the errant officials.
District transport officer Anil Kumar Garg admitted that some vehicles falling under the “category of cabs” were given taxi permits by the department.
{{/usCountry}}District transport officer Anil Kumar Garg admitted that some vehicles falling under the “category of cabs” were given taxi permits by the department.
{{/usCountry}}But he said he is aware of the fact that such “vehicles” have been picking up passengers at random and added that stern action will be taken.