Bali warns of strict action against taxi drivers

Dharamshala, Apr 29 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Transport and Tourism Minister G S Bali today warned of strict action against taxi drivers for taking law in their own hands and assaulting a RTO and his staff and said the guilt drivers will not be spared.

Addressing a hurriedly organized press conference here, he said the taxi operators had taken law into their own hands by beating Kullu RTO S L Saini after he issued tickets to seven taxis that were plying without the taxi meters.

Warning that the state government would not tolerate physical attack on any of its official, he said investigation into the incident was on and the guilty would not be spared.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has also expressed concern over the incident and had asked him to look into the matter, he said.

He said the transport department was only implementing the orders of the High Court that said taxis in the twin towns of Shimla and Dharamshala should install metres in all the taxis.

Drivers refusing to install meters were violating the orders of the road, he said.

The installation of meters, which was first deferred to April 11, this year, from April one and then to April 23, could not be deferred indefinitely and should be followed up now, he said.

Besides, he said, the decision was taken by the state government after a series of meetings with the taxi operator unions and was in the interest of tourism, tourists, local people and the state.

Mr Bali asserted that the government would not buckle under pressure and ensure that the orders of the court were implemented in letter and spirit.

Rubbishing the claims of the taxi operators that the meters were not available at Dharamshala, he said this was far from truth and the meters were available with the RTO office.

The government was also sympathetic towards their genuine problems and would was ready dialogue with them, he said.

Mr Bali said taxi operators would charge a sum of Rs 50 for the first km followed by Rs 10 per km, for 12-seater, it would Rs 70 for the first km and Rs 15 for the successive.

Besides, the taxi drivers could charge 10 per cent night charge, he said.

These rates were in no way against the interests of the taxi operators but would certainly save tourists, pilgrims and locals from exploitation, he added.

UNI