In an effort to streamline the auto services in the city limits, the fourth prepaid autorickshaw counter has started functioning near Pettah railway station.
The project aims to set up a hassle-free transport system which the passengers, especially women, can trust and utilise any time.
With all the counters opened so far turning out to be a success, the police, along with City Corporation, have decided to launch a similar counter near General Hospital, which is visited by thousands of people - both patients and bystanders - every day.
In the counter at Pettah, passengers have to take a coupon, which has all the details like fare, destination, date and time of journey, auto number, driver’s name etc. This would enable the passengers to raise specific complaints, if any, about misbehaviour of the driver or such problems experienced while travelling. Details regarding the driver and the owner are stored in the computer with the Regional Transport Office. So, it becomes easy for authorities to take prompt action against the drivers violating rules or misbehaving with passengers or fleecing them.
One rupee is collected from the passengers over and above the fare for the maintenance of the counter and to pay the salaries of the personnel manning the counter. The City Corporation has provided the basic infrastructure, including the computer, and pays the salary of the Traffic personnel on duty at the counter. The operations of the counter are monitored by the civic body and the Traffic Police.
At a time, more than 25 autorickshaws can be parked at the stand adjoining the prepaid counter.
Now, discussions are on with the General Hospital authorities regarding the fifth counter proposed at the General Hospital Junction. According to Traffic (South) CI Satheesh Kumar, a police aid post is already functioning inside the hospital. However, starting a prepaid counter somewhere near the aid post is practically impossible. “Owing to lack of space, parking autorickshaws inside the hospital premises is impractical. In the traffic regulatory meeting, discussions were held to start a counter here. A final decision will be taken immediately in this regard,” he said.