In a recent dictate, the DRM mandated that taxi drivers and cab operators have to exit within 10 minutes of their entry into the premises, or cough up a ‘late fee’ of Rs 10 per hour
The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday served a notice to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) in Ahmedabad over a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the time limit imposed on auto drivers and cabbies beyond which they cannot stay within the premises of the city’s railway station.
In a recent dictate, the DRM mandated that taxi drivers and cab operators have to exit within 10 minutes of their entry into the premises, or cough up a ‘late fee’ of Rs 10 per hour.
The Gujarat Autorickshaw Drivers Action Committee objected to the move saying that the number of passengers at the railway station is so high that it is not practicable to exit within the prescribed time.
Moreover, the main road adjacent to the station is also used by commuters who are not heading to the terminal. So roads on station premises and in areas surrounding it remain congested, they said.
When the railway authorities didn’t pay heed to their objection, they moved court. The court has served a notice seeking a reply from the railway authorities. The next hearing will be on July 4.
“The dictate by the DRM is impracticable and illegal. Rickshaw drivers will be unfairly fined if the rule is implemented. With regard to the PIL, the High Court has served a notice to the DRM,” said Aziz Alvi, the advocate for the rickshaw drivers.
“It seems the only intention of the railway authorities is to make money. To stay cautious, we are dropping passengers outside station premises. We know this is causing hardship to the passengers, but we do not want to bear the financial burden of this ill-thought-out action,” said Rajveer Upadhyay, secretary of the committee.
‘RAILWAYS’ RANDOM RULE’
Rickshaw operators say that railway authorities are acting whimsically as no survey has been conducted to tabulate traffic-related data and determine a feasible duration for cab and auto drivers to stay.
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