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Will Impound Autos Of Repeat Offenders, Officials Say; But Public Sceptical About Drive
Transport authorities will from Monday fine autorickshaw drivers `2,500 if they charge more than the meter fare. They will also impound the vehicles of drivers against whom there are repeated complaints.A senior official said 24 teams will fan out across the city to ensure that errant drivers are penalized. The authorities have received numerous complaints about drivers refusing to ply by the meter despite the fact that petrol price has dropped by almost `10 litre since the fares were announced in August 2013. Autorickshaw drivers will from Monday have to pay a penalty of `2,500 if they demand more than the meter fare and will have their vehicles impounded for repeat offences.
The transport commissionerate is resuming its crackdown on errant autorickshaw drivers after going easy on them for three months. Under pressure from autorickshaw driver unions, the government had in August stopped impounding vehicles of drivers who did not ply by the meter.
“There were protests and earlier this year an auto driver even threatened to commit suicide,“ a senior official of the transport commissionerate said. “We decided to soften our stance because around 70% of auto drivers had fallen in line. But now that things have gone back to square one, we're left with no option but to take punitive measures.“
The traffic police will provide the manpower required for the enforcement and transport department officials have the authority to impound vehicles.
“At a meeting on Friday with the traffic police, we decided to work together again.The traffic police have 62 stations but we cannot have motor vehicle inspectors for each station because the department is understaffed. Each inspector will have to cover more than one police station jurisdiction,“ the offical said. “From Monday , 24 teams will collect `2,500 each from auto drivers for first time offences and impound vehicles of drivers for repeated complaints.“
Commuters, however, are not convinced that the drive will work, especially since such campaigns are sporadic and last for a couple of weeks or so at most.
“Police initially took action with gusto against owners of vehicles with sun protection film on their windows and those not wearing seat belts, but after a while people were violating the rules again and did not face action,“ said R Lingesh, of Kodambakkam. “Random campaigns do not work.“
While officials insist that members of the public should make complaints for them to take action, people who use autos regularly feel there is no point. “Most drivers demand at least `50,“ said Varadarajan A V , a resident of Adyar. “They even dare me to note down their numbers and make complaints. At the age of 77, I am not inclined to note down auto numbers or make complaints.“
But authorities insist that they are better prepared this time. “During the last drive, drivers said their autos were damaged and some parts stolen when their vehicles are impounded. We asked police to ensure that the vehicles are kept safely when they are impounded,“ the transport official said. He said 30 autorickshaws that officials impounded months ago are yet to be claimed by their owners.
The transport commissionerate is resuming its crackdown on errant autorickshaw drivers after going easy on them for three months. Under pressure from autorickshaw driver unions, the government had in August stopped impounding vehicles of drivers who did not ply by the meter.
“There were protests and earlier this year an auto driver even threatened to commit suicide,“ a senior official of the transport commissionerate said. “We decided to soften our stance because around 70% of auto drivers had fallen in line. But now that things have gone back to square one, we're left with no option but to take punitive measures.“
The traffic police will provide the manpower required for the enforcement and transport department officials have the authority to impound vehicles.
“At a meeting on Friday with the traffic police, we decided to work together again.The traffic police have 62 stations but we cannot have motor vehicle inspectors for each station because the department is understaffed. Each inspector will have to cover more than one police station jurisdiction,“ the offical said. “From Monday , 24 teams will collect `2,500 each from auto drivers for first time offences and impound vehicles of drivers for repeated complaints.“
Commuters, however, are not convinced that the drive will work, especially since such campaigns are sporadic and last for a couple of weeks or so at most.
“Police initially took action with gusto against owners of vehicles with sun protection film on their windows and those not wearing seat belts, but after a while people were violating the rules again and did not face action,“ said R Lingesh, of Kodambakkam. “Random campaigns do not work.“
While officials insist that members of the public should make complaints for them to take action, people who use autos regularly feel there is no point. “Most drivers demand at least `50,“ said Varadarajan A V , a resident of Adyar. “They even dare me to note down their numbers and make complaints. At the age of 77, I am not inclined to note down auto numbers or make complaints.“
But authorities insist that they are better prepared this time. “During the last drive, drivers said their autos were damaged and some parts stolen when their vehicles are impounded. We asked police to ensure that the vehicles are kept safely when they are impounded,“ the transport official said. He said 30 autorickshaws that officials impounded months ago are yet to be claimed by their owners.
Karthikeyan Hemalatha TOI 15 Nov 2014
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