The Hindu : Pre-paid auto service at Thampanoor hit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Pre-paid auto service at Thampanoor hit

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Feb. 12. City commuters, especially those arriving by trains and buses during odd hours, are facing hardship as the 24-hour pre-paid autorickshaw service from the Central Railway Station premises has been suspended, reportedly due to the non-availability of coupons.

The pre-paid autorickshaw service, which had been a boon to citizens, had been hit for the last three days due to the shortage of computer coupons which are issued to the passengers who make use of the service. The coupons were being supplied free of cost by jewellery shops and other private establishments.

Although passengers continue to board the autorickshaws from the station premises, the Traffic police personnel are not issuing the coupons to the passengers at present. As a result, the passengers have to pay the fares demanded by the autorickshaw drivers.

A joint venture of the City Corporation and the Traffic Wing of the City Police under People's Plan Campaign, the scheme was launched in March, 1999. A service charge of 50 paise levied from each commuter, was used to pay salaries of the counter staff as well as to maintain the computers installed at the counter.

The functioning of the pre-paid counter was being supervised by a committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and monitored by the City Police Commissioner. The running of the counter has now been entrusted to a committee headed by the City Mayor, J. Chandra.

When contacted, the Mayor said she was not aware of the shortage of the coupons at the pre-paid counter. "The Corporation will look into the matter,'' she added.

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