Missing meters the norm among many autos in Puducherry

Survey finds drivers demanded twice or thrice stipulated fare

A family seen bargaining over the autorickshaw rates near the Puducherry bus stand on Wednesday. — PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

Forget about insisting on auto rickshaw drivers to abide by the meter in Puducherry, ‘missing meters’ were found to be the norm among a large number of the ubiquitous three-wheelers, according to a survey conducted by a civil society organisation.

Following the diktat issued by the Transport Department this week warning errant auto rickshaw drivers who charge passengers in excess of meter fares, members of the 5th Pillar decided to test the ground reality.

To their surprise, they found that drivers demanded more than twice or thrice the stipulated fare and quite a few auto rickshaws were plying without meters.

No end to fleecing

Neelakandan, who took an auto from the railway station to the Jain temple in Anna Salai — a distance of around 2 km — was charged Rs. 50, after he bargained. The driver initially demanded Rs. 80, he said. There was no meter to be found either, he added. Damodharan, who took an auto rickshaw from the junction between M.G Road and JN Street to the Clock Tower hotel on Bussy Street, was charged Rs. 50 for a distance of just around 1 km, he said. While the auto rickshaw he took had a meter, it was found to be not working.

“We have suggested that running auto rickshaws be stopped by the enforcement officer to check if the meter is on and passengers should be asked if they faced any difficulty with the tariff. We have also suggested to the Transport Commissioner that the enforcement process be video-taped, similar to the way it was done during the elections,” said Sakthivel of the 5th Pillar.

Posts on social networking sites have often highlighted about how visitors to the city and residents are fleeced by auto rickshaw drivers.

One user on a social networking site asked how auto rickshaw drivers could charge excess fare in a place where the cost of fuel is lower compared to other places. However, another user stated that since auto rickshaws are not used frequently in the city, they probably have to charge a higher fare.

42 autos impounded

When contacted, Transport Commissioner S. D. Sundaresan said 42 autorickshaws had been impounded since the crackdown was launched on Monday.

The department has slapped fines on drivers for violations such as collecting excess fares, running with tampered meters and plying without any meters at all.