Auto raj to end

The highhandedness of auto rickshaw drivers is going to end soon as the Transport Department and Traffic Police is planning to put an end to the ‘auto raj’. Citizens have been complaining for years about autos drivers for not willing to ply, charging extra for no reason and of tampered meters.

In a special meeting held recently between the Transport Department, Traffic Police and Metrology Department a decision was taken to crack the whip on erring auto drivers.

In the past, when auto rickshaw drivers were caught for violations, they would pay a fine and repeat the same offence, but now if they are caught, their permits will be cancelled.

A V Ranganath, DCP Traffic says, “Five areas are identified where maximum violations take place. These are driving without licence, charging excess, refusal to ply, hiring without meter and meter tampering. We are streamlining the fundamentals and these will come into force from the second week of May.”

Permits of autos from Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy that are found to be plying in Hyderabad will be cancelled.
It was also decided in principle to move towards GPS based metering systems from the existing revolution of rear wheel based metering.

Meanwhile, the authorities are getting in touch with auto unions and have informed them about the drive. Officials say that about 90 per cent complaints on social media are on auto drivers. In spite of auto drivers being warned there seems to be effect as 7,531 autos were caught at least twice since 2014 for different offences. There are at least 125 autos that were caught 10 times in the same period.

Drunk driving is another problem and as many as 223 drivers were caught. Renuka, a resident of Lallaguda says, “We have had bad experiences. It is only after we get into the auto do we realise that the driver is drunk. It is unsafe and annoying.”

Owners to be liable
A V Ranganath says that the 86 section of the Motor Vehicle Act will be imposed in its entirety. Permanent modifications inside the autos by placing planks is not allowed, the department is planning to crack down on such autos.

There are several autos in the city that transport school children and modify the insides of their vehicle. Officials say that the auto is designed to carry only four persons and overloading puts passengers at risk.

Refusal to ply is an issue that is specific to Hyderabad. Traffic police officials say that quite a number of complaints from passengers pertain to this problem. Lalitha, a regular user says,

“There are times when almost all the autos in the stand gang up and refuse to ply. In all other cities in the country one first gets into the auto and then informs the driver. But here, one has to first seek the “permission” of auto drivers if they are ready to ply or not.”

By:T P Venu