Plying in Tata Magic cabs that have been rapidly replacing the so called derisory share-autos on Chennai roads might be comfortable to you. But, those who drive them are left in deep distress whenever they encounter the traffic police. Drivers complain that the policemen often demand `100 in fines every day, totalling up to `3,000 a month. The reason: the drivers don’t have permits to run these vehicles as share-autos.
“We can hardly escape from traffic cops. But once paid, we can ride the cab one full day without any problems,” says Ravi, who operates his own Tata Magic on the Mogappair-Anna Nagar route. These four wheeler cabs are either given a national or state permit, but not share-auto permit.
According to a State Transport Corporation source, there are over 750 registered Tata Magic cabs in the city. But cab owners say that the number runs into thousands. “People who have registered their vehicles in the suburbs are using them as share-autos in the city,” says Basheer, whose Tata Magic plies between KK Nagar and Mylapore. Abraham of the same route echoes Basheer’s point. “There used to be just one Tata Magic cab in the stand before. Now, you’ll find at least four. People don’t board a vehicle if more than three people are sitting inside, because another empty cab will be roaring just behind it,” Abraham laments.
Interestingly, many drivers have switched over to this spacious cab from disadvantageous Piaggo vehicle or regular Bajaj hire-auto. “People prefer these cabs and are ready to pay more,” says Arokya Paul, who manages to earn up to `500 a day. Reopening of schools after the summer vacation will also ensure a fixed income for them. “We will be busy only during the peak hours — 8am to 11am and 6pm to 9pm. We hardly get passengers from 12 noon till 4pm,” says Abraham, who is a fulltime auto driver. “We can’t do anything during those hours, because we never know when we will get passengers,” he adds.
Another issue auto drivers unanimously complain of is disrespect from both the public and the police. “Nobody treats us with respect. We’re the most vulnerable, especially from the police, who will stop the vehicle and abuse us in front of passengers as if we’re criminals. Frightened passengers will get down immediately and move away without paying,” rues Abraham, who thinks that the government should grant them permits to run the vehicles as share-autos. “If the government does not wants us to use this auto, they can ban it altogether. But allowing a few hundred to run with a permit leads police to fleece us and make money.”
While these cab owners hope that all their problems will be solved when the new government grants them the required permit, Seshasainam, the state secretary of AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress), demands a clear policy to make sure that regular hire-autos are not affected. “In Mumbai, autos have been moved away to suburbs; only taxis can ply in the city limits. Here too, the new government should clearly draft a policy to the benefit of all,” he argues.
Rajaraman, Transport Commissioner, said that the action on granting permit to Tata Magic autos were temporarily stopped after the model code of conduct for elections had been announced. He added that only the new government will decide on the issue. It is also learnt that approval for introducing mini buses in the city has also been sanctioned under the previous regime. Hence, only after May 13, one will know what ‘magic’ the new government is going to cast.
