Can autorickshaws in the city ever be regulated? This is a nagging question in the minds of thousands of commuters, particularly those who rely on them for their daily commute.
From electronic fare meters and rate cards to an open permit system aimed at increasing competition, much has been tried. But fleecing continues and has, in fact, become worse after the recent fuel hike, according to passengers.
One aspect that perhaps needs more attention is how auto stands contribute to the problem.
A. Raghavan, a resident of Nanganallur, who has to rely on an autorickshaw to even reach a nearby bus stand, says: “The stands lead to a monopoly in operation. No other autorickshaw is allowed into the locality. They can set their own fare structure and commuters have no choice.”
He adds that issuing permits for more autorickshaws will not automatically increase competition. Apart from a government-fixed fare structure which most drivers do not follow, there is no regulatory framework to govern operation of autorickshaws, he observes.
According to the Chennai City Traffic Police, only 115 autorickshaw stands in the city have been issued a permit. No new permits have been issued in the last two years. The permit has to be renewed every year to ensure that traffic flow does not get affected by the presence of a stand.
However, S.Santhappan, an autorickshaw driver, claims that there are 200 autorickshaw stands in K.K.Nagar alone.
“We after all need space to celebrate Ayudha Puja or other functions,” he says. The autorickshaw unions affiliated to the CITU and AITUC say they have 3,000 stands each under their control. S. Purushothaman, coordinator of the 120 tourist-friendly autorickshaws in the city, says that most stands are unauthorised. “Anyone can put up a board, occupy public space and just chit-chat all day until a ‘ savaari ' comes to his doorstep. Every driver who charges exorbitant rates claims that he will have to go back empty. This is because one cannot pick up a new commuter at a drop-off point. He has to go back to his stand,” he adds.
According to him, stands should mostly function like bus bays where autorickshaws pick up and drop off passengers and idling autorickshaws should be allowed only in few residential zones.
V. Thamizh Arasan, Head of Transportation Engineering Division, IIT-Madras, says that police must totally scrap the “stand culture.”
If more autorickshaws are on the road instead of being parked, both commuters and drivers would benefit. “Ultimately, cooperatives are better than locality-based stands.
Autorickshaws must operate in an organised manner and must learn from the innovation in the taxi service,” he adds.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Arora, who is currently in charge of traffic, said that stands bring in a degree of predictability and make it easier to catch an autorickshaw. “But unauthorised stands obstruct traffic and we will take action against them.”
