Wanted: 3,000 drivers; Pay: double than usual

The Commonwealth Games organisers are on a massive hunt for drivers. They immediately need 3,000 of them who know Delhi like the back of their hand and also understand foreign accents. The Games Organising Committee (OC) will have around 2,000 cars at their disposal, thanks to Tata Motors, but they
are facing acute shortage of chauffeurs.

The fleet of cars, which include Indigo Excel, Grande and Safari, will ferry athletes and Games officials from airport to hotels and venues.

Though the job of recruiting drivers have been entrusted to Tata Motors, OC has also pitched in with less than three months left for the event.

“The vehicle providers will bring their own drivers but we are facilitating the process,” said OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot. “We are also trying to bring drivers from different sources. We have identified a large number of drivers and are interviewing them at present.”

Bhanot said that the drivers were expected to know all major roads and routes in Delhi.

“We will require about 3,000 drivers to work in different shifts and also in reserve,” he said.

To lure and retain drivers for the short period of about two months, they will be offered double salaries.

Sources said that while drivers are usually paid Rs 200 per day, those driving for the Games will be paid up to Rs 500.

“There is an acute shortage of drivers in Delhi as it is and we are talking to different sources to facilitate the recruitment of drivers,” said Anil Chhikara, who is in charge of the project.

Chhikara is a Motor Licensing Officer of Delhi Government’s Transport Department on deputation in the Committee.

“We will train the drivers in courteous behaviour and also give them accent training so they can understand what foreign dignitaries tell them,” he said.