The city police are set to crack down on errant autorickshaw drivers following an increasing number of complaints of drivers demanding excess fare and refusing to ply.
Speaking to The Hindu , Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem said they had been waiting for Road Safety Week to conclude (it concluded on Tuesday) before launching the drive.
“We will book cases against autorickshaw drivers if they harass passengers by refusing to ply or demand excess fare,” he said. Passengers can approach the nearest police station or contact the control room on 24180500 and lodge a complaint after noting down details of the autorickshaw and driver.
The drive comes even as officials of the Department of Legal Metrology claimed that more than half of the autos were plying without recalibrating their meters even though fares were revised last January.
Traffic police officials confirmed that they were receiving complaints from the public against auto drivers demanding excess fare citing faulty meter.
Regional Transport Officer Padma Prasad said there was no proposal before the authorities to effect a downward revision of auto fares in the light of the dip in prices of petroleum products.
Fitness certificate
“Autos without a recalibrated meter are being denied a fitness certificate, which they need to renew every year,” he said.
