50000 new autos to be unleashed on city

AUTOS ON A NEW HIGH!

VIJAY TIMES NEWS


In a move that would result in chaos on roads if approved, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has proposed providing permits for 50,000 additional autorickshaws.

This will contradict the Metro Rail project plans and provide an opportunity for middlemen to exploit autorickshaw permit issued under the self-employment scheme.

While the RTA proposes to increase the number of autorickshaws from the present 75,000 to 1,25,000 due to ‘future transport demand’ of the City, it defies the Metro Rail project plans of actually banning autorickshaws from some key roads to endure higher ridership for the mass rapid rail transport.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, during its meetings with the Public Investment Board in New Delhi last year, had suggested plans to the Board on how it would ensure high ridership.

This included relocating bus depots and autorickshaw stands to feed Metro rail stops and restricting autorickhaws to some roads to encourage people to use the Metro Rail.

Somashekar, president, Bangalore Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Association, and Manjunath, president, Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union, say if the government approves the proposal, it will benefit the middlemen who will exploit beneficiaries of the self-employment scheme under which permits are issued to the unemployed youth.

The government is yet to tackle the problem in which middlemen purchase permits from poor and unemployed drivers for meagre amounts and transfer vehicles in their names before selling them at a higher rate in the black market.

Traffic Advisor to State government, M N Srihari, said autorickshaws are part of the intermediate public transport like maxi cabs and city taxis and they are required to feed the Metro Rail.

“Blindly adding to the existing 25 lakh vehicles will only worsen the already congested traffic scenario in Bangalore. This has to be done in a disciplined manner,” adds Srihari.

Syed Shafi Ahmed, RTA secretary, said it is necessary to increase the number of autorickshaws to service those residing in newer areas. Ahmed also adds the move will bring down existing problems like refusal to ply passengers and demanding excess fare.

50,000 new auto permits mooted for City 17,500 autos take public for a ride

25 lakh

The existing number of vehicles plying on Bangalore roads

75,000

The number of autorickshaws currently plying on the City roads

50,000

The number of additional autos proposed for the City.

Despite the special drive by the legal metrology department to check the recalibration of autorickshaw meters and getting them sealed, more than 17,500 autorickshaws in the City have continued to cheat commuters by not getting them recalibrated and sealed.

According to the department, up to Wednesday 56,177 autorickshaws had got their meters recalibrated. These include 49,613 mechanical meters and 9,264 electronic meters.

According to a dealer, his company had sold 21,000 electronic meters in the City. "Initially when the autorickshaw fares were revised, we recalibrated 11,000 fare meters free of cost and another 5,000 meters at Rs 55 per meter," he said.

"Two years ago, the transport department made electronic meters mandatory for the new autorickshaws. But after getting autorickshaws registered, most drivers pulled out electronic meters and got mechanical meters installed as they were easy to manipulate. This might have also added for the less number of electronic auto fare meters getting sealed" the dealer opined.

According to Legal Metrology their responsibility is limited only for the recallibration of the fare meters, checking them for the accuracy and sealing them.

"Enforcement responsibility lies with the Transport Officials as they have the right to inspect the autorickshaw whether it was fitted with the electronic meter or mechanical meter at the time of registration of vehicle while issuing Fitness Certificate" said Legal Metrology sources. But the Transport Department officials passed on the buck to Legal Metrology department.