Delhi govt may give subsidy on increased fitness fees of autos & taxis

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government plans to provide a subsidy to drivers of auto-rickshaw and taxi on recentlyincreased fees of fitness certificates by the Centre in the national Capital.

Delhi Transport Minister Satyendar Jain has asked his department to examine the option of giving the subsidy on increased fees of fitness certificates and other services on auto-rickshaws and taxis .

Earlier this month, the Union Road Transport Ministry had increased fees of fitness certificates of auto-rickshaws and taxis from Rs 200 and Rs 300 to Rs 600 respectively. The move comes ahead of municipal elections that are scheduled to be held in April this year.

Auto and taxi drivers are considered to be vote bank of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. They also supported AAP in the Assembly elections.

“Transport department is currently examining to bear increased fees of fitness certificates of taxi and auto-rickshaw.

“For instance, fee for fitness certificate of auto-rickshaw has been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 600. Delhi government is planning to bear Rs 400 on every fitness certificate fee,” said a senior government official.

The official also said that the Delhi Transport Minister has also written to Centre asking the Union government to withdraw the steep fee hike in different categories.

Centre had also increased fee of driving licence by five times more while taking a driving test has also been expensive with a six-fold hike in base fees.

Meanwhile, Bhartiya Private Mazdoor Mahasangh, a unit of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, has threatened to launch a countrywide strike if fee hike is not rolled back.

Rajendra Soni, Vice-president of Mahasangh, said that the union office bearers has sought an appointment with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to raise their demands before him.