Hyderabad: Although autorickshaw fares were hiked by 25 per cent a few days ago, many autorickshaw drivers still don’t charge passengers by the meter. And though the government order regarding the new fares is due only in the first week of February, many drivers have already started charging as per the revised fare, which is against rules.
“Many demand '100-200 for just five km. We have to argue and finally end up paying twice the actual fare. If the rates have been revised, why don’t the autorickshaw drivers charge as per the meter?” asked a commuter.
However, the Auto Drivers’ Union JAC claims that the culprits are drivers who are not registered with the union. “The transport commissioner said that a circular with the new tariff card will be sent in the first week of February.
Till then, we are charging the old rates. Autorickshaw drivers who are not a part of the union resort to this (cheating) and give us all a bad name,” said A. Sathi Reddy, the general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Auto Driverla Samakhya. HyderÂabad and RR district together have about 1,20,000 autorickshaw drivers belonging to 17 unions.
It would be a great relief for commuters if more prepaid autorickshaw stands are started at railway stations. At present, only the Secunderabad railway station has them.
“We are going to set up prepaid auto stands soon at other railway stations. But there is no timeframe. Commuters would then be able to avoid arguments with autorickshaw drivers,” said Amir Garg, commissioner of police (traffic).
Meanwhile, K. Sambasiva Rao, IRTS, chief PRO of SCR, said, “We have no space restrictions for setting up prepaid stands. The project was tried out at some stations, but there were logistical issues. After a study they were set up at the Secunderabad station. If they can be worked out at other stations also, it will be most beneficial for commuters.”
