267 TSR/Taxi drivers fined for misbehaving with passengers this yr

New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) The Delhi Police have challaned 257 TSR and 10 taxi drivers this year for misbehaving with passengers and overcharging them, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of state for Home V Radhika Selvi informed the lower house in a written reply that some instances of overcharging by taxi and three seater rickshaw (TSR) drivers had come to the notice of Delhi Police and the defaulters were challaned.

The steps taken by police to check overcharging by such drivers and refusal to ferry passengers include setting up of pre-paid TSR and taxi booths at railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and commercial centres as well as airports. A 24-hour traffic helpline has also been established to register complaints from passengers, besides launching special drives from time to time to discipline TSR/taxi drivers.

In the year 2005, 82 taxi drivers and 7206 TSR drivers were prosecuted. In 2006, 54 taxi drivers and 11226 TSR drivers were prosecuted. In 2007, the figure with regard to prosecution of taxi and TSR drivers stood at 92 and 7147 respectively. This year, upto February 29, 10 taxi drivers and 257 TSR drivers were fined, the minister added.

In another reply, the minister informed that since 'police' is a state subject, decision to convert Crime Against Women Cells into full fledged police stations lay with the respective state governments.

The Crime Against Women Cell in Delhi has already been converted into a police station under the Delhi Police for registration and investigation of cases relating to crime against women, she added.

During the year 2006-07, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) provided financial assistance to five non government organisations worth Rs 4.30 lakh, Ms Selvi informed the house in another reply.

The minister clarified that the NDMC has not paid salaries to the staff working in these NGOs.

During 2004-05, eight NGOs were provided with financial assistance of Rs 4.45 lakh, including Rs 2.50 lakh to Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society.

In 2005-06, Sanskriti School was provided Rs 2.40 lakh as financial assistance. In the same fiscal, eight other NGOs were provided with financial assistance to the tune of Rs 5.50 lakh. The assistance to the eight NGOs was, however, released in the fiscal 2006-07.

In another reply, the minister clarified that the NDMC does not permit shopkeepers to display goods in verandahs and exit points during festivals, especially Diwali.

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