Ricks make Bangaloreans go around

Ricks make Bangaloreans go around
Some Bangaloreans swear by autorickshaws. Others swear at them. But, love them or hate them, there’s no getting away from the fact that they are as integral to the city as by-two coffee — over 10 lakh people in the city depend on the 75,000-plus three-wheelers to get around the city. As auto fares are set to be hiked from March 15, The Times of India does a SWOT analysis of the auto world
The Times of India


With a lack of a mass transportation system like the metro rail in Kolkata and Delhi and local trains in Mumbai, Bangaloreans have three choices: buy their own two- or fourwheeler, wait for a BMTC bus or flag down an autorickshaw. “Although I find BMTC buses convenient to take me to school, whenever I travel anywhere else I end up taking an autorickshaw,’’ says Sharmila Jois, a teacher at Baldwin Girls’ School. “And it’s rarely a pleasant experience.’’ Dodgy meters, overcharging and abusive drivers are just some of Jois’ problems. And for thousands of Bangaloreans who commute in them.

The most common complaint, however, is drivers refusing to take the passenger to her destination. “While I agree that a driver is providing public service, people must understand that he too needs to return to his family. So if he doesn’t want to go to a particular direction, he shouldn’t be forced to do so,’’ explains Jagannath Rao, vicepresident, Autorickshaw Driver Union, Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

According to Rao, the driver should have the right to refuse a commuter after 8 pm. As it happens, most people come up against this problem even during the day. “At 9 am, there’s not a single autorickshaw that will take me from my place in Benson Town to my office on Kasturba Road,’’ says software engineer Priyanka Grover. “And they charge one-and-a-half times the meter when they want to; at 9 pm, an hour before this rate comes into force, or because it’s raining or simply because they see that you’re a solitary woman on the street.’’

Rao maintains that the autorickshaw service is the best in the country. “There are no autos swifter than the ones in Bangalore. And no one realises the problems we face,’’ he says.

STRENGTHS

On the brighter side, autorickshaws have several advantages. Not just are they quick, they spare people of parking hassles. “Most of the time when I come to Brigade Road to catch up with friends, I’d rather rick it down since it spares me the trouble of parking or, worse, encountering cops,’’ says Pooja Sharma, a student of Jyoti Nivas College. “Especially during rush hour, you’d rather sit peacefully in an auto than get stressed out on a two-wheeler.’’ Autos have been known to speedily transport the ill or injured pets to the hospital in emergencies. Despite the number of school buses, an estimated 10,000 school students rely on three-wheelers to take them in time for the morning assembly.

WEAKNESSES
Autorickshaws are facing a daunting deadline — all of them must get authorised gas conversion kits installed by June 30. If they fail to do so, the RTO authorities will not issue them a fitness certificate. But the cart seems to have been put before the horse. For the 45,000 autos fitted with retro kits, there are only 17 gas filling stations. Furthermore, the conversion costs Rs 20,000, an amount that sometimes exceeds the value of an old autorickshaw.

“The current tariff of Rs 5 per kilometre was fixed in 2002. While the new rate of Rs 6 per km and a minimum rate of Rs 12 has been agreed upon, we’re still waiting for the order to be passed,’’ says V Chandrashekhar, general secretary, Karnataka Rajiv Gandhi Auto Chalakara Vedike.

OPPORTUNITIES
Did you know that first autorickshaw hit Bangalore’s roads around 1962? Till recently, autos had brown roofs, but in keeping with the Central Motor Vehicle Act, they had to get them changed to yellow. In fact, only last year, this rule was enforced compulsorily. The yellow roof is not just safer for rainy days and night travel, it also adheres to the public transport colour code of black and yellow, also followed by taxis. Interestingly, the colour code in rural areas is pink and black. So don’t be surprised if your autorickshaw has a pink roof if you happen to be in Nelamangala, Bidadi, Anekal or Hoskote.

The “share an auto” system also works well in these areas. “With infrequent buses and low spending power, a fare of approximately Rs 5 per head is a convenient solution. But you would usually find about five persons in a ‘share auto’, sometimes more,’’ says Rao. Sharma feels this system would work well in Bangalore too. “It would ease the traffic congestion and make life simpler for people,’’ she reasons.

However, with the recent police initiatives, things should look up for auto commuters. As Chandrashekhar optimistically says, “The police have given us a month to warn drivers to be more peoplefriendly and service-minded. We’re positive that it’ll take us less than that to serve Bangalore better.’’

THREATS

The seven prepaid counters across the city were launched with much fanfare by the police. But they don’t seem to find favour with either drivers or commuters. “Half the time, counters like the one on M G Road or outside Forum don’t function. So what’s the point?’’ shrugs Grover.

The drivers try to avoid prepaid counters because they feel that the rates fixed by the police are less than the actual fare. “If a passenger says he wants to go to Jayanagar, the police just issue a flat rate. Do they care that there are nine blocks in Jayanagar and that can make a significant difference to the fare?’’ asks Rao. Notwithstanding these glitches, the police plan to introduce more counters in the city.