Can't stop fleecing

Can't stop fleecing
Vijay Times

In a better-late-thannever act, the powers that be have woken up to the reality that Bangalore has grown beyond the limit they had imagined and the common man needs to be helped in some way when he travels the distance. The result: the autorickshaw you hire cannot fleece you saying your destination is beyond the city limits. The new city limit for autorickshaws is 50 km radius with Vidhana Soudha as the centre point as against the present 25 km radius.

This means you are being empowered to pay the fare the auto meter (mercifully not a tampered one) shows when you travel within this radius and not be at the mercy of the drivers who are now ‘empowered’ to charge as they fancy.

But one cannot say three cheers as of now to welcome the decision as the government has to resolve a jurisdictional dispute between two of its departments.

The ‘people-friendly’ decision was taken by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in December last. But it is being opposed by not only a section of auto drivers and owners but by ‘big brother’ - the State Transport Authority (STA) as well. The STA is said to be insisting that RTA has no authority to take such a decision.

While one auto drivers union is threatening a protest if RTA goes ahead implementing its decision, another one has welcomed the move.

Somashekar, president of Bangalore Auto Drivers Union, told VViij jaay y TTiim me ess that his association will fight tooth and nail against this decision.

However, the RTA resolution on the issue says: “In accordance with the representations submitted by some autorickshaw drivers unions of the City, it was decided to extend the Bangalore Autorickshaw Permit limits from the present 25 kilometres radius to 50 kilometres radius.” A copy of this resolution signed by the RTA chairman and the secretary is with VVi ij ja ayy T Ti imme ess . Those opposing the move see it as a ploy to drive out the autos from Central Business District (CBD). Somashekar contends that if this decision is implemented then the old autorickshaws which are operating outside the City will come into Bangalore City limits adding to the congestion. Pollution level will also increase, he argues.

However, disagreeing with such views is Manjunath, president of Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Union. Welcoming the decision, he said the congestion is being caused by the city taxis and call centre vehicles running with tourist permits and not by the autorickshaws.

“On an average, two to two-and-ahalf thousand cabs are being registered in the City with tourist permits. Because of this, the congestion problem has increased. First these vehicles registration has to be controlled”, he said. He added that the extension of the permit limit will help autorickshaw drivers and owners increase their earnings.