As traffic cops crack the whip, auto drivers try to play decent

Friday, 02 July, 2010


Delhi's auto-rickshaw drivers, infamous or their rude behaviour and penchant for overcharging, seems to be quickly mending their ways with the Traffic Police cracking down on those not sticking to the revised auto fares.

Thanks to the ongoing vigilance drive, which has at least 340 traffic police personnel on the roads to tame auto drivers, the commuter has emerged an unlikely winner despite the increased burden on their pocket due to the fare hike. Since Monday, the auto drivers have been more than willing to actually go where asked to, even short distances, and that too with the meter on. Arbitrary charges and the resultant haggling seems to be passe, at least for now.

Over the last three days, violators have been fined by the traffic police. On Wednesday, 126 autos were impounded and at least 1,620 challans were issued for violating permit conditions.

"I am surprised, I didn't have to haggle with the auto-wallah for going to office today. Even the wait to scout for one wasn't too long. The first auto that came my way stopped and, without any argument, turned the meter on. I was surprised as I am used to my daily battle with the auto driver," said Jyotsna Krishnan, who has to take an auto from RK Puram to go to her office on Barakhamba Road every day.

"At least 1,620 autos were challaned on Wednesday and the figure was close to 1,400 on Tuesday. At least 126 were impounded on Wednesday and 122 on Tuesday. In several cases we are prosecuting auto drivers for violating their permit conditions. According to the permit, they cannot refuse a passenger to travel any distance, long or short," Joint Commissioner of Police Satyendra Garg told Newsline.

The traffic police had earlier maintained it was difficult to tame the errant auto drivers as some of their grievances vis-a-vis a hike in the price of CNG were genuine. "But now their fares have been increased and drivers have to follow the conditions of their permit," Garg said.

"We will be very tough for the first three to four days. We will relax the drive a bit to watch the behaviour of auto drivers in the coming days. A lot of manpower has been concentrated on this drive. We will conduct this drive on certain days every week," Garg said.

The Delhi Traffic Police has also deployed special teams at points infamous for the presence of touts like railway stations, ISBTs and the IGI Airport.

Police strategy
The traffic Police has formed two teams each for Delhi's 40 traffic circles. One of the two teams has a female personnel who acts as a decoy passenger wanting to go a short distance. If refused, the driver is challaned then and there. The other team, comprising at least four personnel, stops autos randomly and ask the passenger if the driver is charging by the meter. The driver's licence is checked and he is allowed to go only if everything is in order.

Original news source http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/as-traffic-cops-crack-the-whip-auto-drivers-try-to-play-decent/641142/