New Delhi, Soon after the registration for Rs 5,000 assistance to public vehicle drivers stated on Monday, heavy traffic was witnessed on the Delhi Transport Department website, with the government releasing an additional link for the same which resulted in 9,023 applications being filed so far.

The public vehicle drivers with valid driving licence and badge will get one-time financial assistance of Rs 5,000 from the Delhi government to deal with the hardship caused by the coronavirus induced lockdown.

Soon after the registration process started on Monday morning, heavy traffic was witnessed on the website.

Till 11 a.m., 231 applications were received, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said, adding that by 1 p.m., the number surged to 723.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, he said people should wait for some time as there was a rush to file applications.

"Since there is still heavy traffic on the website, an additional link is being provided. To fill the online form, I would request all drivers of para transit vehicles to use the link pucc.delhi.gov.in/cvfa/."

Gahlot said by 9.30 p.m., the two online links had received 9,023 applications and "the process is smooth after the second link was launched".

On Sunday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the drivers can apply on the website transport.gov.in by filling their driving licence number, PSV badge number and contact details.

Assistance will be given to drivers of auto-rickshaws, taxis, gramin sewa, phatphat sewa, maxicabs, eco-friendly sewa, e-rickshaws and school cabs.

Public transports in Delhi have been stopped to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The restrictions are in force since the announcement of the 21-day nationwide lockdown from the midnight of March 24.

As a result, a large number of persons, including drivers of public service vehicles, have been affected.