Even as Gurgaon local administration celebrates Car-Free Tuesdays to promote use of public transport among commuters, plans for installation of fare meters in auto-rickshaws, an important means of public transport, has failed to take shape.
Interestingly, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of Gurgaon had prepared three fare policies for installation of fare meters in autos over the past five years, but there has been no implementation on the ground.
The first fare policy was sent in December 2010, where the Transport Department had recommended installation of fare meter compulsory for autos and fixed charges of Rs.19 for first three km and Rs 6.50 for each subsequent km.
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The second fare policy was sent in November 2011. In the policy, a charge of Rs.20 had been fixed for the first two km and Rs 6.50 for each subsequent km. The night charge was kept at 25 per cent extra of the fare. Again the RTA prepared a policy in March 2013 for CNG auto-rickshaws plying in the city.
The RTA sent it to the transport department's headquarters in Chandigarh for consideration but nothing happened.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Bharti Arora said that her department had sent a proposal to the government two years ago on the fare meter policy and now the ball was in their court.
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For their part, the Gurgaon Police have set-up two pre-paid auto booths at HUDA City Centre metro station fixing the fare for the autos, but the initiative has had a little impact.
“Since the autos have no meters, the drivers now charge at their will. Though locals can still bargain, the auto drivers mostly overcharge from outsiders. If there are fare meters like Delhi, it will stop exploitation of passengers,” said Rajesh Yadav, who takes an auto-rickshaw everyday from his home to office at Old Delhi-Gurgaon Road.
Mahavir Singh, CNG Auto Welfare Association president, said that the auto-rickshaw drivers were also supporting installation of fare meters, but did not know what was causing the delay.
Transport Commissioner (Haryana) Chander Prakash told The Hindu over phone from Chandigarh that a meeting was held ten days ago to discuss all transport related issues of Gurgaon.
RTA had prepared three policies for fare meters but there has been no implementation