Auto drivers ask GMDA for designated stands

GURUGRAM: The city auto drivers have approached the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) to provide autorickshaw stands after 67,000 challans were issued to autos by the traffic police department last month. Notably, the proposal has been in pipeline since three years but the GMDA has now decided to re-look into the matter.

The auto drivers have been requesting to build dedicated stands at 53 locations across the city including major metro stations and hospitals, such as MG Road, Medanta Hospital and Sadar Bazar, since 2016. Over the years, the request was raised with the Gurugram traffic police and Municipal Corporation of Gurugram. However, the proposal was never concretised.

The Haryana Auto Chalak Sangathan approached mayor Madhu Azad, MCG and GMDA earlier this month requesting them to consider the inconvenience.

“We have shortlisted sites that are located on the government land. These sites are owned by the MCG and the Haryana Sahari Vikas Pradhikaran,” said Mahabir Singh, state president, Haryana Auto Chalak Sangathan.

In April 2016, MCG had even asked a private company to survey the sites proposed by the auto-rickshaw union. In May 2016, the company had identified 43 auto-rickshaw sites for MCG but the plan was not pursued any further.

A senior GMDA official said the plan is now under consideration by the development authority. The plan will also have a provision for booking a pre-paid auto booth, along with washrooms and drinking water for the drivers.

In January, the traffic police had issued 67,000 challans and impounded 400 autos. According to auto drivers, if they are allotted designated parking lots, they would not have to park haphazardly on roads which leads to traffic jams and eventually challans.