As published in free press indore edition on 17/03/2011
Ujjain
It is a matter of great relief that woes of public are finally heard when Ujjain Police IG instructed the concerned authorities to get the fare meter installed in all auto rickshaws and ensure that they are put to use. It really had become a nightmare to deal with an autowalla specially when you are coming from or going to Railway station/ Bus stand and accidentally if is Railway station then you are bound to face three mini mafias in succession viz. Autowalls, railway parking and coolies. No one charges at the stipulated rates and no one is there for us to look up to. They are all organised to charge you at their will considering you have no other option due to either luggage or time compulsions. There have been incidences , when they have abused and even embroiled in violent clashes with resisting passengers.
Coming back to autowallas, their behavior is no different during intra-city ferries, claiming the return fare as well. Their custom argument is one of the rising petrol prices and increasing inflation, but what about passing on the CNG’s cost benefit to passengers. The CNG’s cost and mileage is one third that of petrol. In Mumbai, the conveyance cost is still low on account of total CNG based public transport. The minimum fare for first 1.6 km remained unrevised at Rs. 9/- for more than six years since 1st Feb 2004 till 24th June 2010 , when it was increased to Rs.11/- with an increment of Rs. 6.50 per additional kilometer.
My expectation with and request to the concerned authorities of Ujjain is to follow up the IGs decision up to the last point till the meterised system for Auto rickshaws is stabilized and practiced with correct fares. The fare list along with luggage rules and traffic control room num bersshould be displayed in all auto rickshaws and also published in all local news papers to ensure its meticulous compliance.
Bharat Sharma
C-44/8 , Rishinagar Extension
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