The traffic police on Saturday participated in a drive to distribute the revised autorickshaw fare cards to drivers and passengers.
Joint commissioner (traffic) south R. Dhinakaran launched the distribution of the cards, printed with the support of The Hindu , to a few drivers and passengers on Anna Salai.
Mr. Dhinakaran said around 70 per cent of the autorickshaw drivers had abided by the rules, followed the new fare cards and installed meters. “We are impounding autorickshaws that violate the rules. This exercise to distribute fare cards is intended at making the public aware they can insist that the driver follow the revised rates,” he said.
According to him, around one lakh cards would be distributed by the police to the public on the streets. “We will print more cards if necessary,” he said.
Meanwhile, in areas such as Nanganallur, residents say they continue to be fleeced by autorickshaw drivers. Mohan, a senior citizen from the locality, said autorickshaws there had got the cards and recalibrated their meters but refused to comply with the revised fares.
For instance, to travel from Nanganallur to Tambaram, a distance of 18.2 km, he would have to pay Rs. 244 according to the new rates. “But the autorickshaw driver told me I had travelled 22 km and charged me Rs. 280. He pushed me away when I tried to check his odometer as he did not have a calibrated meter. Similarly for a 4 km ride from Masarghana to Valasarawakkam, drivers demanded Rs. 300 whereas it costs only Rs. 70 going by a meter,” he said.
