Commuters may face hardships in the city as a section of auto unions have planned to go on a strike from Friday opposing mandatory installation of GPS system on their vehicles, even as the city government claimed that the unions have been persuaded not to go ahead with the agitation.

Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, after a meeting with representatives of several auto unions, said installation of the GPS system in auto-rickshaws will start from June one as the owners of the three wheelers have agreed to follow the government directive.

“We are committed to streamline the functioning of auto-rickshaws in the city. The auto owners will have to shell out Rs 625 as monthly installment for one year as cost of the system,” said Lovely.

Contrary to government’s claim of auto unions agreeing to install GPS system, leaders of several unions said they will go ahead with their planned strike from 11 PM Thursday night opposing the government’s directive.

“Some small unions might have agreed to call off the strike. But most of the unions will go ahead with the agitation. We cannot accept the government diktat,” said Virendra Pal of Rastravadi Tapaya Salak Sangh adding Delhi Auto Drivers’ Association, Pragatisil Auto Association and Janasakti Tipaya Salak Sangh will go ahead with their planned agitation.

“The government has called selected unions for talks. We were not invited. We do not have any knowledge about the meeting as well as decisions taken there,” he said.

General Secretary of Bhartiya Tapaya Saklak Sangh Sobran Singh Rajput said his union will not participate in the strike.

Asking the auto unions to follow the government directive, Lovely said installation of GPS systems in autorickshaws is a must for getting fitness certificate and no auto-rickshaw would be allowed to ply without it.

In an effort to rein in the auto drivers following complaints of overcharging, the city government had issued an order earlier this year asking all autorickshaw owners to install GPS in their vehicles so as to ensure that they run on meters and do not overcharge.

The auto unions said they are not opposed to installation of GPS but the cost of the equipment must be borne by the government.