New Delhi, May 31 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Monday said the hike in price of compressed natural gas (CNG) by the central government will be taken into consideration while deciding a new fare structure for auto-rickshaws in the capital.
‘It will be factored in,’ Dikshit said when asked whether her government has any plans to hike auto-rickshaw fares in the wake of CNG price increase.
Any decision on the matter will be taken by the transport department of the Delhi government, she told reporters at a press conference, which will be held every Monday after a cabinet meeting.
Earlier, state Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely assured auto-rickshaw drivers’ unions demanding an increase in the fare structure that he would examine their demand.
The price of CNG has risen by 20 percent after the central government almost doubled the rate at which it was marketed by two state-owned exploration majors.
Dikshit blamed the frequent power cuts in the capital on overdrawing of power by the neighbouring states from northern power grid.
‘At the same time, load shedding is taking place in some areas because of local faults,’ she said.
Delhi government has time and again complained to the centre of overdrawing power by states such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.