TIWN
Agartala, June 2 (TIWN): Abrupt hike of transport fares by auto-rickshaw drivers is illegal and punishable by law, Tripura Additional Transport Secretary Amit Barman Roy said today.Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat at Agartala this evening, the official said that the Department of Transport received complaints from several corners regarding extra fares charged from passengers.
“We are tightening our enforcement wing shortly. If any specific complaint is received, strict action would be taken including cancellation of auto-rickshaw permits”, he said. Barman Roy added that teams of enforcement officials would hold field inspection visits which might include on-the-spot statement collection from passengers.
Asked about the take of the Department over the rise of transport fares, Additional Secretary Barman Roy said that the Department would stick to the fare rates notified by the government on November 08, 2012. “We are clear about our objective of enforcing a maximum of Rs. 6 fare per for petrol and diesel-run motorized three-wheelers and Rs. 5.50 for CNG run vehicles of the same segment. The cumulative fare would be divided among three passengers”, the official said.
The Additional Secretary, however, stated that any extra fare charges from the passengers would be deemed illegal and would be acted upon. “Any fare taken above the permissible rates would be subject to action under Section 66 of the Motor Vehicles Act”, he said. The official added that any complaints pertaining to overloading of auto-rickshaws above three passengers would be seriously dealt with.
Barman Roy stated that the Transport Department would be soon launching 100 new town buses under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The buses are expected to hit the streets by the next six months, he said adding that the pressure from three-wheeler segment would be largely compensated after the public transport is strengthened.
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