Erring Auto Drivers to be Caught Red-handed

Transport Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh has instructed officials of his department to ride in autos in the garb of common man

KOCHI: With complaints against autorickshaw drivers across the city on the rise, Transport Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh has instructed officials of his department to take to his path, to ride in autorikshaws in the garb of ordinary passengers and nab erring drivers.

The trick used by him and the Motor Vehicles Department helped bring down the accident rate in the state. According to the instruction, officials will travel in the autorickshwas at a fixed time during the day or night to find out how passengers are being fleeced, the manner in which they are ill-treated and how they are denied trips during emergencies.

The officials will charge cases on such  offences. The Transport Commissioner has  instructed them to take immediate action including suspension of licence, suspension of the permit and slapping a fine anywhere between `300 and `500.

The Transport Commissioner will look into the details and the statistics every day.

Recently, a city  driver was arrested after he attacked a journalist which led to the fracture of his hands when an altercation over the fare ensued. The incident occurred in the heart of the city at around 11.30 pm as the autorikshaw driver demanded `40 for a short trip from MG Road to KSRTC bus station, which led a heated exchange of words.

As the passenger reached halfway through and said he would file a complaint with police, the autorickshaw driver used an iron rod to attack the scribe.

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