Title - New pre-paid booth at New Delhi railway station

Northern Railway and Delhi traffic police on Thursday started a pre-paid auto-rickshaw/taxi service at New Delhi railway station.A new pre-paid booth has been built close to the area where passengers get down from the foot-over bridges on the Ajmeri Gate side. An updated fair chart has been put up near the booth. There are separate lanes for auto-rickshaws and taxis.Similar facilities would soon be created at Delhi’s other railway stations such as Nizamuddin, Old Delhi and Sarai Rohilla.However, it’s not mandatory for all drivers to go pre-paid as promised by the authorities earlier. If drivers are not willing to pick passengers from the pre-paid area, they can drop them in the through lane and leave.But passengers feel that harassment at the hands of auto and taxi drivers would continue. “What’s new? A pre-paid booth has always been there. It’s just that it has been shifted closer to the platforms,” said Kumar Bibhu, a resident of Mayur Vihar. 

Senior railway official Anurag Sachan, however, said, “The service would be a boon to thousands of passengers alighting at the station.”

“The old pre-paid system did not function properly because of its location. Drivers charge exorbitant fares there,” he said.

Traffic police official Anil Shukla said, “Stern action would be taken against auto-rickshaw and taxi operators found violating the norms.”

Passengers can dial 011-25844444 to register complaints. “Making the service mandatory is not ruled out. We would first see how the new system goes,” said Shukla.