By IANS
New Delhi : Sick and tired of the extra money Delhi’s auto drivers always seem to demand? Delhi government is to unveil a code of conduct to tame the city’s over 50,000 auto drivers.
At the same time, 650 new buses are being added to the fleet of the state-run Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to meet the shortage of buses.
“We have been receiving a lot of complaints about auto drivers. Within two days a new code of conduct will be in place for them,” Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf told IANS.
“Auto drivers will have to display their name, batch number, photograph and license number in bold letters inside their vehicle,” he said. “And they need to be in uniform.”
Delhi transport authorities said they encourage commuters to complain on the department’s dedicated phone number 4240 0400.
They said after the revised fare structure came into existence in June, they have been getting more complaints, including from the Delhi Police Control room.
“Sometime people complain about an auto driver but don’t mention his auto number. This creates a problem for authorities to take action.
“The new code will help commuters provide required information so that instant action can be initiated against culprits,” said an official of the state transport authority.
On May 31, the government had recommended a revised fare structure for buses, autos and taxis, which came into effect June 7.
Under the new rules, the minimum Rs.2 bus ticket went up by one rupee while the fare structure of other tickets remained the same.
Auto-rickshaw fares were hiked from the earlier Rs.8 at start to Rs.10 and for every additional kilometre from Rs.3.50 to Rs.4.50.
The fare for black-and-yellow taxis was hiked from Rs.13 to Rs.15 for the first kilometre and for every additional kilometre from Rs.7.00 to Rs.8.50.
Speaking about the High Court directive to arrange more buses to provide Delhi commuters safety from the rogue Blueline buses, Yusuf said: “We have already given order for 650 more buses. You will see them plying on city roads soon.”
The privately owned Bluelines have killed 77 people this year alone.