As part of the autorickshaw meter enforcement drive by city police, 3,777 vehicles have been impounded till Saturday after its drivers were booked for repeated violation.
The police have urged the public to lodge complaints by contacting the helpline numbers which will soon be displayed on autorickshaws.
After the autorickshaw meter regulations came into effect, traffic police stepped in to enforce it from November 16. “Traffic police along with State transport officials have been collecting fines from violators and vehicles of repeated violators have been seized,” said a city traffic police officer.
A few days ago, the police released two helpline numbers (9003130103 and 7418503430). Passengers, especially women, have expressed the need for the numbers to be displayed on autorickshaws. “The police should also consider enforcing the display of drivers’ ID cards on the vehicle,” said K. Shambhavi, an IT professional.
The police are carrying out the process of pasting stickers with the helplines on the vehicles and display of ID card copies is being considered, commissionerate sources said.
Police assistanceEarlier, police commissioner S. George said an assessment, including CCTV surveillance, of autorickshaws was carried out. It was established 60 to 65 per cent of the drivers complied with the meter norms. “In order to enforce them completely, we have identified nearly 100 locations where we will be posting a sub-inspector or head constable for assistance during rush hours,” said Mr. George.
Mr. George added that violating drivers and those harassing passengers will be dealt with sternly with their permits being annulled.
The deployment of police is likely at autorickshaw stands outside Central and Egmore stations, CMBT, IIT-Madras, Madras High Court, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Government Stanley Hospital. Permanent public assistance booths are likely to be set up if the initiative is a success.
