NOIDA: Auto-rickshaw drivers with NCR permits on Tuesday called off their strike after the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB) formally extended the reciprocal common transport agreement for another six months.TOI had reported that a section of autorickshaw drivers with NCR permits went off the roads in Noida on Monday, post the expiry of the reciprocal common transport agreement on October 13. The pact between the NCR states — UP, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan — allows free movement of autos and other contract carriage across the region.According to an order uploaded on NCRPB’s website, the board made requests to the participating states on October 5 seeking their consent for extending the validity period of the prevailing agreement for another 10 years.The government of Delhi, in a letter dated October 11, said that extension of the agreement for a period of six months “may be considered for the time being”, pending signing of new pact, says the order. While the Haryana and the UP governments gave their consent to the extension of the agreement, the Rajasthan government too said that it had no objection to the extension.“Accordingly, a request letter dated October 12 was sent by the undersigned to all the NCR participating states for the extension of validity of RCTA (Contract Carriage) for further six months beyond October 13, 2018, pending signing of new RCTA (contract carriage) agreement,” reads the order issued by BK Tripathi, member secretary, NCPRB.Talking about the agreement, the regional transport officer of Ghaziabad, Ajay Tripathi, said the auto drivers need not be worried about any action now as the NCRPB has made it clear that the permits have been extended for another six months and their will be no action against them for entering any of the NCR states.Following the extension of the pact by NCR Planning Board, transport commissioner P Guru Prasad too issued an order stating that in relation to the unrestricted plying of autos, “status quo” would remain, meaning that auto drivers from UP can enter Delhi and other NCR states without any restriction.Noida Autorickshaw Chalak Association which had called for a hunger strike at the transport department’s office from Wednesday, has welcomed the decision. “We have decided to call off the strike since the NCR Planning Board has agreed to our demands. However, we will have a meeting with the drivers and decide on future course of action,” said Lal Babu, the association president.

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