In the city, the commuter and the auto driver have never quite had a love-hate relationship. Not since Bangalore's development started touching newer heights by the day. Now, the hate-hate relationship, has become more and more complicated, with the two locked in numerous unruly arguments. But more often than not, it has been the commuter who has to bear the brunt.
While the Bangalore Traffic Police has taken note and is trying its best to bring the relationship to a level playing field, there still seems to be a long way to go.
The prepaid counters set up by the BTP at various busy points in the city was one among the numerous initiatives, but that too seems to have fallen flat.
A Saleem, assistant traffic police commissioner who spoke to us about the ongoing auto menace, says, “In the first half of 2013, we booked around 6,690 cases for refusal to take passengers on hire. 3,376 cases were booked for charging excessive amount from passengers. Apart from these, we have received 184 complaints through IVR, 261 cases via SMS and 241 complaints through email. These may or may not include prepaid autos, but we try to solve the issue within five days of receiving the complaint by sending notices to the owners concerned.”
Hand in glove: According to Rudra Murthy, general secretary, Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union, the problems occur when the traffic police and auto drivers are hand in glove. “We have around 1,50,000 autos in the city. Though there is proper maintenance of prepaid booths near KSRTC bus stands and railway stations, there is no upkeep or streamlining maintained in prepaid counters situated near malls at posh areas. Some of the drivers are taking it very easy because both, they and the police constables, benefit,” he says.
Mandate or denial: Rudra Murthy states that he wants the traffic police to handover management of prepaid auto to private parties.
“There are volunteers who are ready to take charge and regulate the prepaid auto system, but the police are not ready to give up on this. The day it is handed over to private parties, we can get a permanent solution,” he says.
But Saleem does not agree. “There is no immediate relief. It is not a mandate that police constables should be available at the prepaid auto booth. Our job is to prosecute those who are violating the rules. I recently had a meeting with the autorickshaw union to take over the complete operations of all the prepaid counters in the city, which they refused,” he said.
Action flow by Traffic Department: In view to set right the mess, Saleem will be putting new inspectors on the job. “We have 30 inspectors who have replaced the police constables. These inspectors will take charge from this week and we will take a stock of the situation and come to a conclusion,” he said.
Public woes
Mukambike, who regularly commutes by auto, says, “The fraud system is not new to the city. What was set up to benefit passengers is only becoming a disadvantage. Sometimes the action of the auto drivers really cheeses us off. I don’t think there is any law and order which can make it corruption free,” she says. While Charan, a youngster who was at the MG Road, prepaid stand, says. “It has become a daily affair for people and more or less a money making enterprise for both autowallahs and the police. We see the cops everyday, but they hesitate to take strict action and punish the auto drivers if they violate rules. Instead, we see them going hand-in-glove with the drivers to make fast bucks. This can be noticed when they have CCTV cameras fixed in every prepaid auto stand.”
