Autos carry extra passengers illegally to make fast bucks

Hyderabad: ‘Addagutta, Addagutta, Addagutta’ is the cry that is loud and clear bang opposite the Rathifile Bus station near the Secunderabad Railway station. People make a bee-line to the shared autos that take commuters for as less as Rs 10 for short distances.

Mallika, a student of Kasturba Gandhi College who takes the shared auto says, “It is convenient as there is no need to wait for the bus and there is no guarantee of finding a place to sit, but in these shared autos, it is not the case.” 

Like her, there are scores of people who hop into these autos but are they legal is the question?  M Dayanand, general secretary, Telangana Auto and Motor Welfare Union, says, “The Regional Transport Authority of any one region may grant a permit in respect of an Auto rickshaw (and Motor Cycle Taxi) to ply as a contract carriage to be valid for an area lying within a radius of 60kms. They are supposed to confine themselves to a particular area only but it never the case.”

Also, these autos accommodate close to six passengers and collect Rs 10. The shared autos are causing loss to auto owners who have all the legal documents but are unable to get passengers. Laxman, a driver said, “People are not bothered, neither is the police. We are the sufferers.”

BY Spandana Nimma