Sgpc Objects To Taxis ‘Overcharging’ Pilgrims

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SGPC objects to taxis ‘overcharging’ pilgrims

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 6

Tension prevailed outside the Golden Temple complex here today when a tiff broke out between the SGPC security force and taxi operators over the issue of “overcharging” pilgrims and creating chaos at the entrance of the complex.

The taxi operators denied the allegations and took vehicles off the road in protest. Harjinder Singh Judge, representative of Sri Guru Ram Dass Taxi Union, said most of them have been operating from outside the Golden Temple for the last over 20 years and never faced any complaint from passengers.

“There are around 250 operators who have been running taxi service under this banner. Today, without any provocation from our side, a group of the SGPC security force attacked us with sticks when we were waiting for passengers outside the complex,” he said.

Reacting on the issue, SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh said the retaliation was resultant of their (taxi operators) disturbing the decorum of the holy shrine.

“It has been observed that they charge exorbitant fare and unnecessarily get accumulated at the entrance point causing great inconvenience to pilgrims. They had been warned numerous times but in vain. They seldom take prescribed fare from the passengers. We have been working out modalities to fix the taxi fare for other important destinations in and around the city from Golden Temple point and they would have to follow them strictly”, he said.