Union prescription: Share-an-auto

Reacting to pressure from several quarters, union leader Sharad Rao, on Tuesday, made a proposal for the problem of tampered meters, fleecing and arbitrary fare refusals by auto drivers.

Rao said his union considers running auto rickshaws on a shared basis as the ideal resolution for this problem.  Running only “share-a-rickshaw” services for short distances with fixed fares, distances and stops; and limiting the regular metered autorickshaw services for longer distances will solve the problems commuters and drivers have.

“About 80% of the trips done by auto rickshaws are for short distances, while only 20% are for long distances. These 80% trips can be done on a shared basis. This will ensure that both the commuters and auto rickshaw drivers benefit as the former will be able to do the journey at a lesser fare and the latter will be assured more money due to incentive formula, which enables earning additional 33% overall fares in the scheme,” said Rao.

He insisted that the union has always been making efforts to open such services in the city to overcome this problem but the transport department has not been responsive. “We had demanded between 400 and 450 share-a-rickshaw stands across the city but only 80 have been granted permissions.”