Overloaded Gramin Sewa autos unstable, threat to safety: Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: Gramin Sewa autos carry more than double the passengers than they are supposed to and are not only unstable but also "pose a threat" to others on the capital's roads, the Delhi High Court has said and rapped the city government for allowing this to happen.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw came down heavily on the city government's transport department and the Traffic Police for allowing the conversion of Gramin Sewa autos meant for carriage of six passengers into a vehicle for carriage of 14-15 passengers.

It also expressed concern over plying of such autos on routes other than those permitted, saying it "affects the free flow movement of traffic on the roads".

"The photograph filed along with the petition make us concerned about the conversion of Gramin Sewa vehicle meant for carriage of six passengers into a vehicle for carriage of 14-15 passengers. The second aspect which concerns us is the plying of such vehicles on routes other than permitted.

"We have ourselves also found the said vehicles operating within the city limits where they are not supposed to ply. The carriage in the said vehicles of passengers are many more than what they are meant for, not only affects the stability of the vehicle and thereby the safety of the passengers but also undoubtedly poses a threat to others on the road," it said.

The court made the observations while disposing of with directions a PIL alleging violation of plying rules by Gramin Sewa autos in the capital.

The PIL, filed by advocates Vijay Dahiya and Ankur Kumar Mishra, had contended that Delhi Transport Department and Traffic Police have turned a blind eye to vehicles plying under the Gramin Sewa Scheme which were flouting traffic regulations and posing a danger to the safety of commuters.

Terming these autos as "death machines," it had claimed these vehicles, plying under Gramin Sewa scheme, carry 15-16 people while the actual capacity, including the driver, was just six.