The Delhi government's efforts to ease out autorickshaws (TSRs) older than 15 years had yielded marginal results. Admits Transport Minister Rajendra Gupta: ``Way back in May 1996, we had stopped registration of TSRs. We had also given them the option of having old TSRs replaced with new rear engine vehicles and had identified 7,000 old TSRs. But unfortunately only 1,500 availed this option.'' According to the transport minister there are 50,000 TSRs in Delhi and a majority of them older than 15 years.

Sources in the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) told Express Newsline that almost 30 to 40 per cent buses in DTC's fleet are over 15 years old since the corporation had purchased only around 22 buses in the past five years. Gupta refused to be state the actual number but said that if this was true then by October 1 all those buses would be replaced. He also said that since April 1, the government had registered only those taxis that have a petrol engine. This would result in natural phasing out of old diesel vehicles, he said.

A majority of taxis are well over 15 years old as well. The Chamkor Sahab Taxi stand on BSZ Marg has 10 taxis of which only one is less than 15 years old it is an '84 model. ``Even that will cross the limit next year,'' says Narender Singh, a driver at the stand. The oldest taxi they have is a '59 model. He estimates that after implementation of the order, of the 10,000 or so taxis in Delhi, only a 1,000 or so will survive. ``Where will we get the money to replace these cars if they go?'' he asks. ``No one will buy such old cars. They can only be sold as scrap at the rate of Rs 7 per kilo. A new car costs almost 4 lakh.''

``We can take loans but even banks will be unwilling to lend. They offer loans at 15 per cent. But we can only get loans from private financiers who demand a minimum of 20 per cent. Where can we get that kind of money?''

At the Yadav taxi stand near the Police Headquarters in ITO, the situation is only marginally better: Of the 13 cars, seven are more than 15 years old. Driver Iqbal Singh says that over 70 per cent of the taxis on Delhi's roads are older than 15 years. ``What can we do?'' he asks. ``We don't have a union.''

With the TSRs, the picture is slightly different. Most TSR drivers rent their vehicles from private contractors. ``Even if the vehicle is more than 15 years old the driver is not responsible. He can always rent a newer vehicle,'' says a TSR driver near ITO. ``The contractors will increase the rent on newer vehicles so we will have even less to take home after we have paid for the petrol and the rental amount.'' The drivers estimate that there are 40,000 TSRs in Delhi which are more than 15 years old.