Many cabs and auto-rickshaws in Delhi are being blocked on the roads by transport workers who are on a one-day strike to object to the sudden hike in traffic fines. many schools in Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida are closed today and office-attenders faced problems in receiving public transport.
41 associations and unions of goods and passenger segments as well as trucks, buses, autos and taxis in the Delhi-NCR region are on strike under two umbrella bodies. Transport officials said the “token strike” was in opposition to the amended Motor Vehicle (MV) Act. The Delhi Metro and the Delhi Transport Corporation buses are running normally.
Here are few updates on the Delhi transport stoppage:
pictures showed a large group of protesting workers blocking cabs and removing the roof of auto which had a customer inside. The strike has in use a large number of auto-rickshaws, taxis, Ola and Uber cabs, private buses off the roads.
parents acknowledged with messages from schools informing them that institutes will be closed today. many schools have requested the parents to make substitute arrangements to make sure their children arrive at school on time.”Most of the institutions have declared off due to strike of transporters and preparatory day off for the upcoming exams,” a person from an association of private schools told the media.
Domestic Airlines such as Vistara, IndiGo, SpiceJet have asked passengers to plan their travel to the airport worrying autos and cabs services could be affected.
Transport associations blamed both the center and the Delhi government for strike. The segment is passing through its worst period because of “rising economic uncertainties, excessive taxes and penalties and corruption”, they said.
The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, which made its way into effect on September 1, made some changes to traffic fines, tightened the penalty for violations like not wearing a seat belt, jumping red light and drunk driving.
Riding without a seat-belt can now make a fine of Rs. 1,000, which was earlier Rs. 100. Use of mobile while riding can make a fine of between Rs. 1,000-5,000. For drunk driving, the fine has been increased from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10,000.
