FLOP ID

FLOP ID

Compulsory ID cards for autorickshaws were thought to be the answer to passengers’ woes. Today, the traffic department’s stipulation has come a cropper as auto drivers have found various ingenious ways to skirt the rule

GAYATRI NAIR



Three years ago, the city traffic police thought they had hit upon just what was required to put an end to the growing incidents of harassment — and in extreme cases even mugging — of commuters by unscrupulous autorickshaw drivers. Their solution: all autorickshaws were to compulsorily display an ID card carrying details of the vehicle and a photograph of the driver.
Like all novelties, it seemed to work beautifully for a while. But with the loopholes becoming apparent to the auto drivers’ fraternity, it is back to square one.
With the traffic department turning a Nelson’s eye to the rampant flouting of its own rule, a large number of autorickshaws move around the city sans ID cards or — perhaps worse — with IDs or ID photocopies belonging to some other driver. As per the rule, the cards should have the name of the driver, his photograph, driving licence (DL) number mentioning its validity period, his address and blood group, and a serial number allotted by the traffic police.
Bangalore Mirror reporter Gayatri Nair criss-crossed the city in more than a dozen autorickshaws over a period of two days last week and found that there was scant respect for the rule. In some autos, the driver was different from the one whose details were mentioned in the ID pasted on the back of the driver’s seat. In some, there were no ID cards at all. A common refrain was: “Madam, we don’t have the time to keep running around for an identity card. Moreover, the policemen themselves do not take it seriously.”
Our reporter explains:
HENNUR CROSS TO
KAMMANAHALLI
I took an autorickshaw (registration number KA-05 C-897) from Hennur Cross to Kammanahalli. It had no ID card, not even a photocopied one, displayed behind the driver’s seat. Wasn’t an ID card mandatory, I asked, to which the driver, Govind, said, “I had an ID card stuck to the seat. I also have a xerox copy of my ID. If you want I can show it to you. But the problem is that sometimes due to rain or extreme heat, my ID gets spoilt, so I thought I would remove it and keep it inside.”
So now you know — the climate’s to blame if you cannot get the driver’s details
KAMMANAHALLI TO
M G ROAD
The autorickshaw that ferried me from Kammanahalli Main Road to M G Road did not have any ID card displayed. Unlike in the earlier case, the driver did not even have a photocopy of the ID card to show me. Matter-of-factly, he said, “This autorickshaw is not mine, it is my friend’s. I am just driving it.”
It’s a brotherhood all right — driving your friend’s auto necessarily means you don’t need a valid ID! M G ROAD TO VIVEKNAGAR
CHURCH
One of the few drivers with a proper ID was R Anil Kumar. His badge number is 564/83 and he is a resident of R T Nagar. His ID is valid till Feb 4, 2009 and his number plate reads KA 03 A 2151. He is handicapped, having lost lost his leg in a freak accident, but a stickler for the rules. He said he would have to renew the card as its validity was going to end. To my question on why many drivers don’t have IDs, he said, “What can I say, even the police also don’t really catch them. I don’t know about others, but I follow the rules.”
A rarity — may his tribe increase.
VIVEKNAGAR CHURCH TO
SHIVAJINAGAR BUS STAND
Syed Ismail also had his ID right. His D/L number is 16398/03, badge number 15598/08 and police serial number 1623/06. He made an interesting point. “Many youngsters don’t have these ID cards. Maybe it’s a fashion statement, who knows.”
He could be right. Most of the defaulters seem to be the younger lot, whereas the older drivers seem more conscious about following the rules.
SHIVAJINAGAR TO
SHANTINAGAR
The auto (KA 03 B 3178) that I took from the bus stand to the hockey stadium had no ID card, and neither was the driver, Rameshwaran, wearing a uniform. He too had an convenient excuse. “Actually this is not my autorickshaw, it is my friend’s.
The person for whom I work (his office is in the Cantonment area) has 15 autos. There are 16 drivers, and I am the spare one. So whenever someone takes an off day, which is almost everyday, I get to drive their auto and that is the reason why I don’t have an ID,” he said. He added, “I can’t keep changing my ID from one auto to the other, right?”
That was a real bouncer — it would take a while to figure the answer to that one.
SHANTINAGAR TO BRIGADE ROAD
Once again, the auto I boarded had no ID. But thankfully, the man did not trot out the “friend’ auto” explanation. Syed Ahmed (KA 03 B 3251) said, “I had my ID card, but I have given it for renewal so that’s why I don’t have it right now.” Couldn’t he paste on a photocopy of the ID? He had no answer to that but “assured” me he would get the ID by Monday.
That was a neat bit of PR — wonder whether our paths will cross again.
KAMMANAHALLI TO COLES ROAD
This auto had no ID and the driver was not wearing a uniform. Imran (KA 01 A132) said, “I am from Hyderabad and I am driving for the past one month in this city. This auto is my friend’s and he lets me use it sometimes. Since I am new I haven’t made my ID yet.”
One wonders what would happen if a passenger complained against this worthy. The number would be traced to the auto’s owner, who would have to take the rap.
COLES ROAD TO ULSOOR
This auto (KA 03 6037) had a photocopy of the ID card stuck on. Rafeeq Ahmed’s picture on the photocopy was blurred, even though the other details were there (D/L 8355/97 and badge number 8839/97).
Blurred images don’t make for proper recall, do they?
ULSOOR TO VIVEKANAGAR
BUS STAND
Undoubtedly the funniest photo was that of Senthil Kumar. The picture on the photocopy of the ID looked like a caricature. The other details were there (D/L 8339/94 and badge number 20905/94) but one would hardly be able to recognise him by the image on the ID. “I will change it soon,” was his casual remark.
Ditto.
VIVEKNAGAR BUS STAND TO HUDSON CIRCLE
Another auto without any ID. The auto (KA 03 B 4450) was being driven by David and he did not have his ID simply because he had given it for renewal and was expecting it back on Monday.
But whether that will actually happen is anyone’s guess.
HUDSON CIRCLE TO
CHAMARAJPET
The auto that took me from Corporation Circle to Chamarajpet (KA 05 A 8401) had everything — a proper ID with a D/L number 6800/98 and badge number 22825/07. But the name of the driver on the ID was Rajendra M and his address was given as Seshadripuram. However, one look at the photo on the ID and the man driving it and the discrepancy is startling. The person driving the auto was D K Kumar and the auto was his friend’s. In fact, Kumar had a separate ID card that he was carrying in his pocket and gleefully showed it to me. “See, this is my ID card. I can put it up but then this is not my auto, so what’s the point?”
The award for sleight of hand should surely go to this one.
ONE UP OVER THE COPS?
When we spoke to DCP (West) Panduranga Rana, he said, “It’s not like we are not doing anything. The problem arises because a number of auto drivers work on a rotation basis. Many autos have owners who give their autos to other people to drive, and these drivers don’t bother to make an ID card. Also, because of their constant rotation it is difficult to regulate them.”
However, he hastened to add, “That’s not to say that we are not doing anything about it. Not having a proper ID card amounts to a serious offence, just like overspeeding and not carrying a driving licence. Last year we collected, in my own division (West), more than Rs 18 crore in fines for a number of offences, including not having an ID card.”
The DCP added that if anyone faces harassment from an auto drivers and the driver doesn’t have an ID card, the person should file a complaint with the police.
NOW THAT INDIA HAS ANSWERED PAK’S 30 QUESTIONS, DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE ACTION ON 26/11 PERPETRATORS?











T hey have no other option.They will have to give Indians some answers.This time they will not be able to get away like they have been doing since the Mumbai attacks. Someone has to take the balme and the guilty should be punished.
ROHITH PATEL, Media professional



N o,I don’t think Pakistan will do anything even this time.Even Pakistan is aware a lot of politicians and top officials in its government are involved,so they will not be able to do anything.They might condemn the attacks to wriggle out of this situation.
KARTHIK N RAO, Associate Software Engineer



I don’t think they will take any action at the moment as a lot of politicians and powerful people in Pakistan are involved in these attacks.And one cannot take action against their own family members. Only when there is external pressure will they do something.They might just capture some small-time terrorists and cover up the entire issue
NITESH SHEKAR, Manager, Media products