Close X
Saturday, January 11, 2025
ADVT 
India

Diesel, Petrol Cabs Go Off Roads, Owners Warn Of Suicides

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 May, 2016 12:14 PM
    The Supreme Court's ban on plying of diesel and petrol driven taxis in Delhi took effect on Sunday, with three taxi owners warning this might lead to suicides in frustration.
     
    Cab operators termed the apex court's decision tyrannical, saying if the decision was not changed then it will lead many of them to commit suicide. Over 27,000 taxis run on diesel alone in Delhi.
     
    The cab operators told IANS that they had decided to launch a protest after mutual consultations. They claimed that almost half the taxis were run on diesel in the national capital.
     
    "I have cancelled 17 bookings since morning as most of my taxis are run on diesel. I have only five taxis run by CNG. We do not understand why the court and Government come up with such decisions?" S. Kumar, owner of Kumar Taxi Services in central Delhi, told IANS. 
     
    He said the apex court decision of Saturday will lead many taxi operators to commit suicide as they won't be able to pay their car instalments now.
     
    "How do we pay our monthly instalments to banks for the loans taken to buy taxis? Does not the government realize that diesel cars can't be converted into CNG?"
     
    The Supreme Court on Saturday refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG). The deadline for the change, which had been extended twice, was Saturday.
     
    Another transporter, who did not wished to be named, told IANS: "The order would have at least made sense if it was applicable to diesel taxis after their ongoing permit got over. That would have at least given some time to the operators to arrange for alternate taxis. But now we are all ruined."
     
     
    According to the Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the city. Of them, 27,000 run on diesel.
     
    Some taxi operators believe the court ruling will mainly affect cab aggregators Ola and Uber.
     
    "The decision is not applicable to taxis with All India Tourist Permit. This is going to be a setback for Ola and Uber who have a large number of taxis run on diesel," Raman of Kamal Taxi Service told IANS.
     
    "The authorities should not be surprised if taxi owners and drivers commit suicide in sheer frustration," Raman added.
     
    Pritpal Singh, a taxi owner in south Delhi, that even taxis with all-India permits often plied within the capital when there was no business for journeys outside. "So even they will be hit. We don't know what to do."
     
    On Sunday, with taxis plying on petrol and diesel staying off the roads, commuters switched over to the limited number of CNG-driven yellow-top taxis and auto-rickshaws. The problem is expected to peak on Monday.
     
    "I called two taxi companies but declined to take my booking citing lack of CNG cabs. Finally I took an auto-rickshaw to reach Noida Sector 15," Sangeeta Johari, a stock broker, told IANS.
     
    Piyush, working with a NGO, told IANS that he waited for two hours to get his taxi booked.
     
    "I was initially told there are no cabs. Later, they said a taxi will be available but in two hours. I had no option and to wait," he said.
     
    This is the second blow to Uber and Ola in Delhi. The Delhi government has declared that it will not let them charge "surge pricing".

    MORE India ARTICLES

    AAP asks BJP to expel MLA, Alka Lamba seeks his disqualification

    The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday stepped up its attack on BJP legislator O.P. Sharma for his "derogatory remark" about AAP lawmaker Alka Lamba, who sought his disqualification as member of the Delhi assembly.

    AAP asks BJP to expel MLA, Alka Lamba seeks his disqualification

    Punjab To Dedicate War Memorial To Country On August 15: Parkash Singh Badal

    Punjab To Dedicate War Memorial To Country On August 15: Parkash Singh Badal
    The Punjab government will dedicate the Punjab state war memorial-cum-museum at Amritsar to the nation on August 15 next year, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Tuesday.

    Punjab To Dedicate War Memorial To Country On August 15: Parkash Singh Badal

    Punjab Claims Solar Power Generation Up 172 Times In Three Years

    Punjab Claims Solar Power Generation Up 172 Times In Three Years
    Punjab claims to have set a national benchmark with a 172-fold increase in solar power generation.

    Punjab Claims Solar Power Generation Up 172 Times In Three Years

    Aamir Khan Joins 'Intolerance' Debate In India: BJP Critical, Congress Backs; Bollywoody Split

    Aamir Khan Joins 'Intolerance' Debate In India: BJP Critical, Congress Backs; Bollywoody Split
    When I sit at home and talk to Kiran, for the first time she said, 'Should we move out of India?' Now that's a very disastrous and a big comment to make to me."

    Aamir Khan Joins 'Intolerance' Debate In India: BJP Critical, Congress Backs; Bollywoody Split

    New Study Examines Effect Of Quick Delivery Of Stroke-Stymying Drug

    New Study Examines Effect Of Quick Delivery Of Stroke-Stymying Drug
    Emergency Health Services says the B.C. paramedics, along with those in Toronto and the Region of Peel, will administer a clinical study drug called NA-1, a substance that limits brain damage if a stoke occurs.

    New Study Examines Effect Of Quick Delivery Of Stroke-Stymying Drug

    ‘Hot’ Political Conversation Can Hamper Love Life

    ‘Hot’ Political Conversation Can Hamper Love Life
    Can a stormy discussion over a political issue at bedtime affect your love life? Very much, finds an interesting poll, suggesting that conflicting political views can kill the heat between some of the couples.

    ‘Hot’ Political Conversation Can Hamper Love Life