Private Cars Under RTO Scanner for Frequent Airport Visits; Notices Sent After Over 5 Rounds at Lucknow’s Amausi Airport

Lucknow: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has launched a strict crackdown on private vehicles suspected of operating as unauthorized commercial taxis at Amausi Airport. Using CCTV and toll data, authorities have identified 653 private cars that visited the airport more than five times in a single month. Between 13 October and 13 November, another 10,162 vehicles were flagged for making at least two airport trips.

According to officials, the repeated visits by private-number vehicles have raised strong suspicion of illegal passenger ferrying, commonly known as daddagiri or unauthorized taxi operations. Notices are being sent to all such vehicle owners asking why their cars are frequently coming to the airport and why different passengers are seen in each trip.

RTO Sends Notices; Commercial Conversion Possible

All private vehicles that have made more than five airport rounds are being issued official notices. If found involved in commercial passenger transport, the owners will be mandated to convert the vehicle into a commercial taxi.

Initial CCTV review shows that in many cases, different sets of passengers were seen during each entry and exit, confirming commercial use under the guise of private ownership.

133 Vehicles Caught in Enforcement Drive

From 17 to 20 November, the RTO Enforcement Team conducted a routine inspection at Amausi Airport, checking 707 vehicles.
Key findings:

• 133 private vehicles were found engaged in commercial activity
• 69 vehicles were seized on the spot
• 6 vehicles have already been converted to commercial category
• Challans were issued to all 133 violators

The operation was conducted by officers including PTO Abha Tripathi, Anita Verma, SP Dev, Khemachand Pandey (Hardoi), Abdeen Ahmed (Sitapur), and Kaushlendra Pratap Singh (Lakhimpur Kheri).

Why This Illegal Practice Exists

Many private car owners avoid registering their vehicles as commercial to escape higher taxes and mandatory checks.
Commercial vehicles require:

• Higher road tax
• A fitness test every two years
• Commercial permit tax
• Mandatory speed-limiter devices
• Official fare charts
• Color-coded markings for safety

By evading these, illegal operators:

• Charge arbitrary fares
• Do not provide receipts
• Put passengers at safety risks
• Cause loss to government revenue

What Action Will Follow

The RTO has made it clear that:

• All private vehicles used commercially will be converted into commercial category
• Owners will need to pay pending taxes from previous years
• Strict penalties will be enforced
• Vehicles failing safety norms will be seized

The Transport Commissioner has instructed officials to ensure zero tolerance for unauthorized commercial activities at the airport.