3-member panel set up for diesel cabs policy: BJP

A three-member committee has been constituted by Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari to prepare policy framework for submission of the case of diesel taxi operators before the Supreme Court. The Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Mr Vijender Gupta, who led a delegation taxi operators to the Union transport minister, said Mr Gadkari had told them during the meeting about the three-member committee.

The committee will be headed by Union road transport secretary Sanjay Mitra and other member are joint secretary (road transport) Abhey Dambley and Delhi government transport commissioner Sanjay Kumar, according to Mr Gupta.

The Union government will file a review petition at the earliest before the Supreme Court. ”The committee will comprehensively put up the case of the transport operators in Delhi before the apex court,” said Mr Gupta.

The meeting, chaired by Mr Gadkari, was attended by top officials of the transport ministry, including technical experts. “Expressing sympathy with the hardship being faced by the taxi operators and their families, Mr Gadkari said that he would do his best to ensure that full justice is done in defending the cause of the taxi operators,” added Mr Gupta.

The BJP legislator had earlier led a delegation of the taxi operators to Mr Gadkari’s residence to brief the Union minister about their grievances. “Mr Gadkari gave a patient hearing to the issues raised by the taxi operators. It was decided to carry out the discussion in the evening to sort out the issue in the presence of senior officials and experts of the transport department,” said the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

Mr Gupta said that the Union transport minister was apprised of difficulties being faced not only by the taxi operators, but also general public due to the ban imposed by the Supreme Court. He apprised the minister that there are 35 lakh vehicles in Delhi running on diesel and petrol.