KOCHI: Kochi can boast of having the highest number of prepaid autorickshaw counters in the state. In an attempt to rein in the errant auto drivers in the city, the traffic police has begun to open more counters at the busy areas and junctions.
As many as seven prepaid counters are functioning in the city. Two of these were opened recently by the city traffic police, one at Edappally junction near Lulu mall and the other at Vyttila mobility hub.
According to the police, they will be opening more counters in the near future. “We have decided to open more counters as an initiative to save the public from the errant drivers. We can bring down cases of overcharging to a great extent if the public depends on the prepaid counters. As the tariff is fixed, there will not be any room for over-charging and verbal fights,” said R Nishanthini,DCP,Kochi.
“Moreover, the new tariff system is on the cards at the prepaid counters for bringing down the frequent complaints raised by the drivers,” she added.
The new counters will be opened at Fort Kochi, Thoppumpady and Tripunithura. Of these, the counter at Fort Kochi will be a state-of-the- art one and aims at helping the tourists from the clutches of rogue drivers.
“Now, the foreign tourists can heave a sigh of relief. The upcoming facility will prevent the auto drivers from harassing them,” said a traffic police official.
The officials added that selected autorickshaws will be picked from the autorcikshaw stands to operate at the new counters. “As many as fifty autos will be operated from each of the counter. The passengers can also file complaint with us if the prepaid counter drivers behave badly with them,” said sources from traffic police.
“Nowadays, almost all passengers prefer pre-paid autorickshaws. Apart from levying a rupee from a passenger, we charge them a normal fare strictly under the guidelines of traffic police,” said Nishad, a staff at Ernakulam north railway station prepaid counter.
“We depend on prepaid counters as we have met with bitter experience from the independent drivers. Many passengers shell out atleast thirty percent excess of the normal fare. The public is always at the receiving end. We welcome the move of the traffic cops to set up more counters across the city,” said Shyamala, a commuter who works in a private firm here.