Taxi and auto unions have announced a one-day strike in the city on Thursday in protest against the Centre’s Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014. The strike is expected to take both autos and black and yellow taxies off the road. Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, which are a part of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, said that they are against the Bill. A number of bus unions, including a section of DTC employees, are also extending support to the strike.
Rajender Soni, general secretary of both the unions, said that they are protesting the Bill because it proposes hefty fines for even minor traffic violations, including jumping a red light. Soni also said that association will demand the State Government to pay Rs2,700 ann-ual charge for GPS in vehicles. Transporters claim that they will not operate at airport and railway stations which may cause commuting problems to thousands of passengers.
Rampath Kasana of Delhi Parivahan Mazdoor Sangh said that this is a nationwide protest and that’s why the organisation supports the transporters. “This bill is not in public interest. The Government is copying policies of foreign countries by charging heavy fine and seizure of licence for a year after 12 violations,” he said. However, the Delhi Government said the strike will have no effect on the transport sector and usual number of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses will ply on the roads.
