State transport minister has called for a meeting on Wednesday.
Bengal government is all set to end the menace of illegal auto rickshaws operating in Kolkata.
In the recent times, people of Kolkata had to bear the brunt of rowdy auto rickshaw drivers who often heckle, manhandle and sometimes even beat up passengers. They don't even spare women passengers. Incidents like verbal spat between autorickshaw drivers and passengers over minor disagreements turning violent have been reported recently. In the past one year, passengers filing police complaints regarding the brash behaviour of auto rickshaw drivers have multiplied manifolds.
Most of these auto rickshaws operate outside the permitted or designated routes leading to uncontrolled or unregulated fares. Most passengers complain that they have to pay three times the actual fare during office hours.
However, this time the administration is determined to end this menace. Come Wednesday, August 8, the state consumer affairs minister Sadhan Pande is all set to meet the autorickshaw drivers of eight routes operating out of Ultadanga and resolve this long pending issue.
"We are determined to end this issue. We will not tolerate public suffering. The administration will not allow plying of autorickshaws on non-permitted routes. They have no other option but to abide by the laid down rules. Any violation would lead to action against them. I am going to hold a meeting with the drivers of eight auto rickshaw routes on Wednesday and give them the necessary instructions," said Pande.
However, opposition parties are taking a dig at this state government initiative. CPM leader Shyamal Chakraborty said, "All this is an eyewash. Most auto unions are affiliated to TMC trade union - INTTUC. The state government has failed to address the menace of autorickshaws operating on illegal routes."
Auto rickshaws plying on these routes are most important as Ultadanga is next to Saltlake which is the IT hub of Kolkata. Most IT companies are based out of Saltlake and Newtown. A majority of these employees working with the IT companies have to travel by auto rickshaws. Some of the routes that are outside the permitted auto routes are - Bidhannagar to Lohapul, HIDCO More to Karunamoyee, Ultadanga to College More, Ultadanga to SDF.
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 "auto-rickshaw drives past a housing project in Kolkata")
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