News4u – News Desk : (PTI) After warning multiplex owners over screening of Marathi movies, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has now trained his guns at taxi and auto drivers who refuse ferry short distance passengers.

Raj today met Joint Transport Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar to complain about the taxi and auto drivers who refuse to take passengers for short distances.

“I have asked the Transport Department to appoint an official to register people’s complaints and take action against the erring drivers. The mobile number of the official should be made public for registering complaints,” he said.

Raj also sought action against the drivers possessing fake licenses and breaking traffic rules.

Suspected MNS activists went on a rampage at various multiplexes here last week demanding prime-time slot for Marathi movies.

Auto and Taxi Drivers in Mumbai

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-News Desk-Autorickshaw fares were hiked with effect from Thursday in Mumbai and nearby Thane, with the possibility that taxi fares would also go up.

While the minimum fare has gone up from Rs.9 to Rs.11 for the first 1.6 kilometers, every subsequent kilometre would cost Rs.6.50, up from Rs.5 now, Bombay Autorickshaw and Taximen’s Union president Sharad Rao said.

This would nearly offset the losses suffered by autorickshaw drivers on account of the hike in compressed natural gas (CNG) prices, Rao said, adding the new fares would help drivers earn around Rs.200 more a month.

The fare hike would affect 105,000 autorickshaws in Mumbai and another 35,000 in Thane district, said union general secretary Shashank Rao.

“However, this is an interim hike since we have demanded a minimum fare hike of Rs.15 at the base level. For this, a committee has been set up to examine the issue,” Shashank said.

Even as the auto fare hike was announced, taxi unions were engaged in talks with the authorities for a fare increase.

The fares were hiked after a flash strike by thousands of autorickshaw drivers hit Mumbai hard.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Government hiked auto fares in the capital following increase in the price of CNG.

The minimum fare for autorickshaws will be increased from current Rs 10 for the first one km to Rs 19 for the first two km.

Subsequently, the charge per km after the first two km will be Rs 6.50. Currently Rs 4.50 is taken per km after the first one km.

The announcement for increase in fares was made by Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely at a press conference in New Delhi.

The decision to increase the fares had been taken by the Delhi Cabinet on Monday.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had justified the decision, saying rise in prices of natural gas has left the government with no option but to heed to the demand of the auto unions for increase in fare.

auto meter

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-News Desk-Sanjeev Dev Malik-New Delhi, The BJP today opposed the city government’s plan to phase out the autos in the national capital, saying the proposal is not “viable”.

“The proposal is not viable. How can they replace the autos. They do not have any alternative,” senior BJP leader V K Malhotra told reporters.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had yesterday said government was planning to phase out autos from the city and working on alternatives to provide the commuters a better way of transportation.

Malhotra said the Chief Minister did not have any proper plan to phase out the autos.

“She spoke about it without realising the gravity of the subject. Autos are the vehicles for the common masses and it will be difficult to phase them out,” he said.

The BJP

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-News Desk-Global automobile giants converged in New Delhi as the 10th edition of the Auto Expo opened on Tuesday, rolling out an array of cars mostly the small ones with a green theme.

In the world’s second fastest growing economy, commercial vehicle manufacturers too want their pie of the market and would unveil their product lines during the week-long auto fair, billed as the biggest in the world in terms of footfalls.

Close to two million auto enthusiasts and business visitors are expected to throng the fair, which is about to witness 50 new launches, including 10 of them global.

Giants like Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and  General Motors are all here but most of them are unveiling their small and concept cars, high on fuel efficiency.

“The Indian Auto Expo has been gaining stature with international original manufacturers launching their global models as they do in other auto shows in the world,” Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Pawan Goenka said.

Honda and Toyota launched their concept small cars with an eye on growing Indian market. They also want to use India as their global manufacturing hub, mostly for small cars.

Toyota unveiled concept small car ‘Etios’ specially developed for the Indian market.

The company which has a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, is investing about Rs 3,200 crore to set up its second manufacturing facility in Bangalore to roll out the car by early 2011.

“Our tagline represents the choice of India for the global premiere of Etios concept, following which, export to other countries will be evaluated,” Toyota Motor Corp Vice Chairman Kazuo Okamoto said.

He said the Indian market, expected to grow to 4 million units by 2015, is important for the Japanese auto major.

Maruti Suzuki unveiled a small multi-purpose concept vehicle (MPV) as India’s number one car manufacturer wants to create a new segment. The concept vehicle has been developed by Maruti Suzuki at its research and development centre.

German auto major Volkswagen introduced small 1.2 litre car Polo with a promise to launch sedan version on the same platform in the second half of this year.

“The Polo stands for German engineering and top technology. It is lively young cosmopolitan made in India car,” Volkswagen AG Member of the Board of management Jochem Heizmann said.

Two-wheelers were not to be left behind. Iconic US motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson announced a plan to bring 12 motorcycles in the Indian market priced between Rs 6.95 lakh and Rs 34.95 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi).

Munjals-promoted Hero Electric launched three electric scooters priced between Rs 17,900 and Rs 32,796.

Toyota Etios and Volkswagen Polo

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-Business Desk-The 10th Auto Expo will open at New Delhi on Tuesday with over ten global launches and previews of small and green cars by the likes of Honda and Toyota during the week-long event -billed as the world’s biggest in terms of footfall.

“The Indian auto expo has been gaining stature with international original equipment manufacturers will be launching their global models as they do in other auto shows in the world,” Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Pawan Goenka told reporters.

He said over ten global launches and a total 50 new launches, which includes variants of different existing models, will be held during the expo.

Companies like Honda and Toyota are expected to launch global concept of their compact cars, while the expo will also see automobile companies showcasing their green technologies.

Earlier last month, SIAM Director General Dilip Chenoy had stated the expo will “possibly be the largest in terms of footfalls”, and it could be the third biggest after Frankfurt and Shanghai in terms of participants.

“This will be the largest show ever held at Pragati Maidan and the largest auto expo ever held in India,” Auto Expo Steering Committee Chairman Rajive Kaul said.

A total of 2,105 participants, including 800 from overseas, will be taking part in the expo showcasing their products in 1.25 lakh sq mt of area that is expected to attract nearly 20 lakh visitors.

Around 18 lakh people are expected to visit the expo this year, which has been shortened by two days compared to the previous one held in 2008, in the face of global slowdown.

“… we are reducing the duration of the expo by two days. This has been done on feedback from participants and members, and it is for cutting expenditure due to economic condition,” Kaul had said last month.

While the Tata Nano was the star attraction of the last auto expo, this time the company will be launching four new models in different vehicle categories.

Maruti Suzuki India will launch its new multi-purpose vehicle Eeco.

Volkswagen will introduce much-awaited Polo in the Indian market.

Small and green cars to be flavour of 10th Auto Expo

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-Business Desk-New Delhi, Auto giant Tata Motors, under attack for a series of fire-related mishaps in its low-floor buses, today ruled out any design flaw in the vehicles but admitted room for improvement in their maintenance even as one more bus caught fire in the city.

Admitting that there may be some problem in braking system of the fleet, president of commercial vehicle business unit of Tata Motors Ravi Pisharody said the company has identified two to three possible reasons for the mishaps and working on them accordingly.

“There is no inherent design or manufacturing flaw in the buses…but there may be some minor problem in the braking system. We have identified two-three possible causes and are working on them,” he told reporters here.

Auto giant Tata Motors

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-Business Desk-New Delhi, German luxury car maker Audi today said it will display a range of models during next month’s Delhi Auto Expo, including a new concept car and one of its historical models.

The company, which celebrated its centennial earlier this year, will also display its entire Indian product range and the company’s newly-launched brand logo during the Expo, Audi India said in a statement.

It, however, did not provide any further details regarding the new concept car or the historical model.

“In the last 12 months Audi India has shown consistent growth in sales indicating a greater and wider acceptance of the brand in the Indian market,” Audi India Managing Director Benoit Tiers said.

German luxury car maker Audi

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-Business Desk-Chennai, Two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto today launched Pulsar 135 LS priced at Rs 51,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), which marks the company’s foray into entry-level bike segment.

“Bajaj Auto has a serious plan to become global number one and there are many programmes being developed for this purpose,” Bajaj Auto Two-Wheeler CEO S Sridhar told reporters here after launching the Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS.

Commenting on Pulsar LS 135, Sridhar said it had many firsts including a four valve DTS-i engine. It has a top speed of 115 kmph and accelerates to 60 kmph in 5.1 seconds.

The company aims to sell 75,000 units of the motorcycle in the next three months in India, he said, adding that the latest offering was aimed at the 18-30 age group.

The company intends to sell a million Pulsars next year, he added.

Two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto today launched Pulsar 135 LS

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites

News4u-News Desk-New Delhi, Three persons including two women were injured early this morning in South Delhi when an autorickshaw travelling on the wrong side hit a speeding Audi car, police said.

The incident took place in Savitri Nagar at around 2:20 am when the women, residents of Tri Nagar, were returning home after attending a religious ceremony.

The autorickshaw was on the wrong side and had a head-on collision with the car driven by Apurva, a 26-year-old engineer who is presently pursuing MBA, a senior official said.

Apurva, son of a CPWD contractor, was returning to his Sukhdev Vihar residence after visiting a friend in Vasant Kunj.

Meera, 47, Vimla, 50 and the auto driver Kishore suffered injuries in the incident.

In their statement, the women told police the auto was on the wrong side and they had warned the driver against it.

They also claimed Apurva was speeding.

Delhi Map

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Bookmark this article

Hide Sites