NEW DELHI, June 1: From today, installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) has become mandatory in all public transport vehicles plying in the national capital.
Hundreds of autorickshaws and taxis were denied fitness certificates today by the transport department for want of GPS.
Sources in the government said that transport department may give a 15-day relief to the owners of taxis, autos and buses to install GPS in their vehicles.
The transport department had recently made installation of such devices in all public vehicles mandatory from June 1.
"From today, GPS in mandatory for public transport vehicles, including DTC buses, autorickshaws, taxis, contract carriage buses. We will deploy our teams to take strict action against the violators," said a senior government official.
The official also said that transport department will not issue fitness certificates to those vehicles which do not have GPS.
The department had made it mandatory for all autorickshaws last year to install GPS in order to get their annual fitness certificate. It had later expanded that ambit to cover taxis and gramin sewa.
Taxi Unions, however, threatened to launch protests against the government if it does not withdraw its decision.
"Today, hundreds of taxis, including black-yellow taxis, were not issued fitness certificates by the transport department for not having GPS.
"We demand that government should immediately withdraw this decision, else we will resort to protest," Rajendra Soni, General Secretary of Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union, said.
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