“After scrutiny of documents of the vehicles registered with these WhatsApp based cab services, the Department of Transport has concluded that 80-85 <g data-gr-id="39">per cent</g> vehicles don’t have proper documents. The vehicles registered in neighbouring states are <g data-gr-id="40">plying</g> in Delhi,” said Gopal Rai. “We have directed them to de-register the vehicles of neighbouring states from their ‘Delhi-NCR’ category. They can run those vehicles in those states but not in Delhi,” he added.
Rai also informed that Uber had provided the data of around 10,000 vehicles registered with it while Ola has furnished details of around 8,000 vehicles. The minister also informed that the Transport Department issues NCR permit for the vehicles interest to operate as ‘taxis’ in Delhi and its satellite towns. “We have frankly told them that the rules have been liberalised but you can’t operate in Delhi without following the minimum required criterion,” added the minister.
The minister specifically mentioned that the government is not intended to hurt the business prospects of taxi drivers or penalise them but will never allow violation of rules by such multi-national firms.
On the scrapping of BRT corridor, Rai said, various departments are divided on the issue but the matter will soon be put before the Cabinet to take the final call. “The departments involved with BRT have given a divided opinion. The government is of the view that as an idea BRT is a better concept but the area and situation selected for its implementation is not in <g data-gr-id="50">public</g> interest,” added Gopal Rai. The BRT which was a flagship project of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit has been facing criticisms since its implementation in 2008 on a 5.8 km stretch from Moolchand to Ambedkar Nagar.
After the new government came to power, the AAP MLA of the area submitted a representation to the Chief Minster seeking early scrapping of the project following which, concerned departments were ordered to present their comments.