Auto drivers at beach station refuse to use meter
Uma Kannan |?DC
Chennai: The auto stand near the beach railway station had a group of auto drivers refusing to use the meter.
I wanted to go to the GovÂernment Stanley Hospital, which is less than two km away. When I started walking an auto driver said nobody would use the meter for the local area and that he would drop me for Rs 40.
Another auto driver joined him to say how difficult it was for them to make ends meet on the meagre meter fare. Finally, an auto driver who listened to all these conversations agreed to use the meter, saying the fare would be only Rs 30 – when he dropped me in front of the hospital, the amount displayed was Rs 28.20. He asked for more but I refused to oblige.
I had a similar experience when I took an auto from Guindy bus stand to North Boag Road. Either the auto drivers refused to use the meter or said that it was not working.
They demanded Rs 120 from me. When I took another auto that used the meter, the fare came to only Rs 60.
Next: An young auto driver turned on meter without hesitation
An young auto driver turned on meter without hesitation
Jackson Jose |?DC
Chennai: With a punctured bike, unkempt hair and sleep yet lingering around I made my way to the bus stand. A press conference which was to commence 15 minutes later was on my days’ priority list.
The clichéd situation of the very bus you have to board not coming at all and rest all coming presented itself with me wasting the first five golden minutes waiting.
I had my share of second thoughts of using an auto. With no better choice around I chose the path less travelled. To my surprise the first auto which came my way switched on the meter without even me asking.
He was a young fellow, may be around 26, with a brand new meter fixed on his vehicle’s aged chassis. I was happy as long as it worked. Heavy traffic did not deter the movement of the auto or the meter, which steadily rose. And so did my grin widen watching my fellow Chennaiites hanging on to buses.
Roads and by lanes passed and in a matter of minutes I was at my destination. It cost me Rs 70 which otherwise would have been on the higher hundreds.
Next: Using meter for short distance not preferred by drivers
Using meter for short distance not preferred by drivers
C. S. Kotteswaran |?DC
Chennai: More than 90 per cent of autos in Chennai now ply with meters and a note in Tamil reading, “Auto meÂter thiruthapattathu with daÂte” visible, but many don’t switch on the meters.
On Monday morning, when I wanted to reach Basin BriÂdge railway station from Madras Veterinary College, two drivers ignored me after hearing that my destination was in north Chennai. Then two drivers were ready to ply, but demanded Rs 60 and Rs 70, and refused to put on their meters. Finally, a third agreed.
When asked why drivers were hesitant to turn on the meter, the driver, named Raheem, said, “I liÂve in Pulianthope and Basin BriÂdge is on my way home. Most of us are used to the previous system of charging orally. Using the meter for a short distance provides us peÂanuts.
Forget about petrol price hikes, the price of auto spare paÂrÂts has increased by 40 per cent. The cost of tyre, tube and brake oil has almost doubled,” he added. Finally, I got down at Basin Bridge and the meter read Rs 38. I smiled at the driver and said you took an unÂnecessary road, adding to the distance, and tipped him Rs 12. as his approach towards a customer was reasonable.
Next: No end to extra fare amount: Passengers
No end to extra fare amount: Passengers
Jackson Jose | DC
Chennai: Strict vigil by the traffic police and transport department officials has had most auto drivers get a calibrated meter, but many ask passengers for more than the fare amount or do not tender exact change.
Sneha Mathew, a postgraduate student who was on her way to Thousand Lights from Besant Nagar, was charged RS 10 over the fare amount. Nivetha Velupur, a college student, who took an auto from Vadapalani to her college in Nungambakkam, was charged Rs 100 when the fare came to Rs 93. On the one hand, customers are easy about paying the extra asked for if the meters on.
Hari Prasad, a marketing professional says, “I paid Rs 40 less for a journey from Porur to Thirivanmiyur because the meter was on, and did not need to bargain, but the auto drivers should tender change. Many a time people from lower income groups also use autos and it’s unfair to ask them for more than what is displayed.”
M.S. Rajendran, State Secretary of the Auto Drivers’ Union, says, “We are aware of such instances. But it’s usually because the auto drivers are not making proper profits. It will take some time for them to fall in line. Proper implementation of the law will do the needful.”
Officials from the traffic police say, “We are conducting regular checks with transport officials. Once we seize the vehicle it is given to the RTO. There is no second opinion when a customer approaches us with a complaint about a driver not following the meter. We immediately take action.” Officials at the transport departmeÂnt said that 88 autos were seized on Sunday alone for violations.
Intensifying the crackdown, the transport department has formed 38 flying squads to look into auto meter violations. Of the 38 flying squads 12 will be functioning in Chennai and the rest in the suburbs. About 17,573 autos are yet to get their meters calibrated, officials say.
Next: HC dismisses auto drivers’ petition challenging TN order
HC dismisses auto drivers’ petition challenging TN order
Chennai: The Madras high court has dismiÂssed the petitions, challenging the order of the state government, directing the contract carriÂage autorickshaws, whÂiÂch were fitted with electronic digital metre to recalibrate according to the reÂvised fare structure within 45 days.
Justice K. K. Sasidharan dismisÂsed the petitions from Chennai CiÂty Auto Ottunargal Sangam, Vada Chennai Mavatta Auto Ottunargal Padugappu Sangam and Madras Metro Auto Drivers Association.
The judge said on the request of owners and drivers of autorickshaws, the government extended the tiÂme on muÂltiple occasions.
There was no poÂint in extending the deadline indefinitely. Some of the ownÂeÂrs /drÂivers of autorickshaws appÂeÂar to be interested only in draggÂing the matter. In fact, the newspapers have reported that even after fitting the metre and re-calibrating it in accordance with the revised fair, stÂiÂll there were complaints that the meÂÂtre-charges were not collected and unless extra amount was paid, the drivers were not ready to ply. the vehicle.
The government has prescribed the cut off date taking into account the ground realities. In fact, the transport department appears to have monitored the re-calibration process and they have extended all possible help to complete the process before the cut off date. When it was made out that it was not possible to complete the process within the cut off date, the government immediately extended the time till November 15.
The owners of contract carriage autorickshaws who failed to comply with the direction even within the extended period were not entitled for any kind of indulgence. The court would not be justified in extending the time limit, the judge added.
The judge said the next question relates to the issue regarding permission to be given for submission of application for calibration and sealing the metre after the cut off period. The individual grievance of a particular contract carriage autorickshaw owner cannot be the subject matter in a writ petition filed by the Sangam. It was open to the owners of respective contract carriage autorickshaws to approach the authority in case of genuine difficulties to redress their grievances.
It was for the authority to take note of the individual grievance and pass appropriate orders. This court would not be justified in issuing a general direction to entertain application for calibration or sealing the metres after the cut off period, as it would amount to extending the time limit, the judge added.
