Rough ride for autos

At a time, when app-based cab aggregator services are mushrooming in the city resulting in better quality of life for the drivers, drivers of autorickshaws say their plight is terrible. 

Auto drivers lament that ever since such taxi services started in the city, they are being pushed from pillar to post, as they are struggling meet to make ends meet. Passengers are increasingly showing a preference to travel by cabs and not by autorickshaws these days. 

According to the transport department, around 60,000 regular autorickshaws are on the roads, while close to 20, 000 cabs like Ola and Uber are being operated in the city. However, a source in the department said that over 40,000 unregistered regular autos are also operated  in the city. 

Daniel Robinson, Programme Manager, Chennai City Connect, says, “Around two lakh commuters  prefer para-transit (excluding MTC buses and EMU train services) mode of transportation a day. It is also a fact that there have also been instances of dissent between commuters and auto drivers and in such a condition, commuters prefer cab services.” 

If the autorickshaw owners had followed the state government’s order issued in 2013, which stated electronic meters should be installed in all autos, there is a high possibility that more number of passengers would have travelled by autos, Robinson said. He also felt that there should be a common fare collected by autos. 

S Balabubramaniam, General Secretary, Autos and Taxi Owners Association, South Chennai, affiliated to CITU, demands that the government chart a comprehensive policy for transport system. “Cabs are offering a temporary service in the city and going by the present scenario, such service will not last long,” he felt and added that if the government considered introducing petrol or diesel at subsidised rates to owners of autorickshaws, the latter would collect less fare from passengers and they could make both ends meet. 

When asked why autorickshaw drivers flouted norms laid down by the state government, Balabubramaniam said, “The current electronic meters do not display correct fare; so, we have asked for GPS meter fare.” 

M Anand, an autorickshaw driver near Central Station said, “It is a fact that after the state laid down some norms, many auto drivers did not follow them. However, 70 per cent of the drivers are following the minimum tariff rate set by the government in 2013.” 

Meanwhile, an app-based cab owner who runs many cars said, “We are collecting the fare in a fair manner from commuters.” A cab driver refused to comment, when asked to explain the difference in the fares between autorickshaws and cabs. Meanwhile, activists and commuters who still use autorickshaws reg ularly said that 18004255430, the toll-free complaint number introduced by the city traffic police along with transport department remained another statistic. “ When I called the number, an automated response is generated. There is no docket number nor an indication of action taken against erring autorickshaw owners,” said P Sekhar, a resident of Tondiarpet. 

In many parts of the city, one can see regular autos stopping in front of MTC bus shelters and waiting for commuters. Auto drivers say they are often flexible with fares. “I tell them I will charge along the lines of a share auto,” said N Selvam (name changed) who is normally found plying on Poonamallee High Road. 

In 2013, the state government announced that all the auto rickshaws should install electronic metres and it led to protests among the auto drivers. Commuters are also asked to register complaints against auto rickshaw drivers who were not complying with the fares set by the government using the toll-free number. 

A senior official from the transport department, wishing anonymity, said they along with RTO officials conduct surprise inspection and seize unregistered autos and cabs. “We are also monitoring fares collected by autos and cabs,” claimed the official.