Share auto, a risky ride in the city

The concept of share autorickshaws was hailed as a boon when they first began to ply in the city’s outlaying areas. However, in the absence of a monitoring mechanism, they are fast turning into a risky ride. 

Overcrowded. Rickety and poorly maintained. No checks and balances. This is the state of affairs of many of these autos, say regular commuters. 

There are 3 types of autorickshaws. The regular ones which ferry two or three, the ‘share autos’ and the ‘maxi cabs’. “Autos were a boon for people like me who had to travel a good distance to work, instead of having to wait for MTC buses,” says Megala, who travels from her home beyond Medavakkam to Kotturpuram, where she runs an ironing shop. Buoyed by their popularity, these autos have begun to load passengers in the available places inside the autos, flouting norms. In a shocking development, many share autorickshaw drivers are creating extra space for commuters by placing  stools in the rear of the vehicles. The dangerous practises do not stop there. Many autos, particularly the ones painted white, (maxi cabs) are in terrible condition. Drivers often use ropes to hold the doors in place, because the shutting mechanism has become faulty. Officials from Regional Transport Office and State Transport Authority rarely carry out inspection on such autos. Most of these vehicles do not have proper permits. 

Sources say that in the absence of clear instructions for autorickshaws on routes they can take, drivers end up deciding the routes. “We are not compelling any commuter to get in the autos. People prefer to get in, even if the auto is overcrowded or if it is not in a good condition. We do inform the commuters, but they do not care,” said P Kennedy, a share auto driver in Porur. When asked why they did not conform to the rules, the driver fell silent. 

Often the drivers of autos park their vehicles near the bus stops to rope in commuters. Commuters are often unable to board the MTC buses and they sometime miss the bus. “Though there are MTC bus bays, such autos occupy the bays, forcing MTC buses to stop on middle of the roads,” says M Vijay Ganesh, a private firm employee in Guindy. According to him, autorickshaw drivers refuse to move out of the bus stop, until their vehicle is filled to capacity. 

In fact, ordinary autos are turning into share autos in many parts of the city, if drivers feel they have not earned enough on a given day. Drivers of such auto rickshaws make passengers sit on both sides of drivers’ seat and they collect fares as normal share autos collect fares. “Since many share autos are plying in the city, commuters prefer them for travels. With demand being high, we turn our autos into share autos and instruct the passengers saying fare will be minimum like share autos,” says M Durai, an auto driver in Old Washermenpet, where the number of share autos are considerably high. 

Veerapandian, Joint Transport Commissioner, City, (inCharge) told DTNext that they were routinely monitoring such violations. “We sense the fact that many share autos are being overloaded and we, along with police officials, conduct surprise raids and seize such autos,”. The JTC added that they also kept a tab on autos which were operated without permits.

Raj Cherubal, director, Chennai City Connect Foundation, says, “Firstly the officials should ensure operation of MTC buses in the city based on the need, because autos make lakhs of trips per day and in such a situation, it will be difficult for officials to monitor violations.” 

“It is clear that most share autos are in poor condition and the auto drivers would first instruct commuters to sit front side (near driver’s seat) and then would wait for more passengers. Still worse, they would again force new commuters on those already seated inside,” said K Thomas, who takes white-coloured share autos in Iyyappanthangal. “This is highly irritating, and many times I have gotten down from the auto and taken mini buses,” he added. 

No owner of a motor vehicle shall use or permit the use of the vehicle as a transport vehicle in any public place without a permit granted or countersigned by a Regional or State Transport Authority or any prescribed authority authorizing him the use of the vehicle in that place. 

A Karunakaran, a member of Annai Terasa Autorickshaw Drivers Welfare Association, Raja Annamalai Puram, says that all the autorickshaws are plying with permits. “Further, our share autos will be operated within the prescribed routes under the direction of RTO,”. When asked about overloading of passengers, the member said that passengers were voluntarily getting into the autos. “However, we have instructed our drivers not to indulge in such practices often,” he said.