Not many takers for My Auto Is Safe

Hyderabad: The ‘My Auto Is Safe’ campaign initiated by the police appears good on paper, but sounds impractical, if one goes by auto unions and drivers. They are unhappy as they need to spend money on installing the required equipment. “It is a very good step taken by the police. It would decrease the crime committed by drivers and will also provide safety assurance to the passengers.

But there are 32 autorickshaw unions in the city and none was called for a meeting to discuss about this project or at least given notice,” says M Dayanand, General Secretary of Telangana Auto Motors Welfare Association.Although the priority of this project is the safety of passengers, the unions are opposed to it. They are even planning to stage protests on Tuesday. 

“For an auto driver to get registered under this project, he has to submit seven documents and certificates which are already submitted to Road Transport Authority. Why should the drivers submit their documents again and pay an additional amount of Rs 250 to the police for a project initiated by them?” Dayanand asked. The police said that around 12,000 autos were registered under the project.

“There are 1,50,000 autos currently registered with the road transport department, and 90% of these autos are financed. The driver has to submit these original documents to the money lender before they take from them. How will the drivers submit these documents for this project if they don’t have the documents with them?” adds Dayanand. “It is a very good step taken by the police as we are given safety assurance, but being a frequent auto passenger, I am yet to notice any auto having that board, though it has been more than a month that the project has launched,” says Yashasvi, a college student.

“I don’t think I will get myself registered anytime soon. As unions are saying I have given my details to the RTO, why should you submit the papers again and pay extra money to the police?” questioned Ravi Kumar, an auto driver.“I got myself registered with Ola and the passenger has my details and there is an emergency option in the app itself. I see no need in getting registered with this project,” says Mohammed Imran.

  -Marty Sri Lalitha