Over half of city Gramin Sewas don't have GPS

NEW DELHI: Five years after the transport department launched Gramin Sewa—vehicles that are supposed to be fitted with GPS—it has realized that, of the 5,000 or so of these vehicles, over 3,000 don't have a working GPS. It has now given a deadline of 15 days to the vehicle owners to get the device repaired, failing which their permits would be cancelled.

"Recently, it was found that 3,151 Gramin Sewa vehicles have faulty GPS devices. The vehicle owners have now been given a fortnight to get the devices repaired and installed, or else their permits will be cancelled," said a senior government official. The GPS devices are a mandatory part of the permit conditions since the time Gramin Sewa vehicles were introduced. According to data with the transport department, there are several vehicles plying without a functional GPS for over a year now.

Interestingly, GPS has been a bone of contention in the transport department in almost all vehicle categories. While GPS is mandatory in public transport vehicles like buses, autos, taxis and Gramin Sewa, most don't have functional devices installed. According to officials, less than half the 4,500-strong fleet of the DTC has GPS functioning properly while autos are no better. Taxi owners have also been protesting against the transport department's decision to make GPS mandatory in all kaali-peeli taxis.

Gramin Sewa vehicles have acquired a spotty reputation because of their increasing traffic violations as well as the congestion they cause near Metro stations. Though Gramin Sewa vehicles are confined to around 166 routes, traffic cops say that route violations are rampant. Other violations like jumping red lights, dangerous driving, speeding, drunken driving and driving without licence are also reported regularly.

Initially, the government issued over 6,000 permits under the Gramin Sewa scheme. Earlier confined to colonies abutting Delhi, the routes now go through the main thoroughfares of the city, including Ring Road. While the government says that 166 routes have been defined, the reality is that most of these shared autos merrily ply wherever they wish.