'Passenger's mistake, he didn't see my nod'

On day 71 of MiD DAY's Meter Down campaign, rogue auto drivers did what they do bestu00a0-- refuse short distance passengers

Place: Sion Junction
Time: 5.30 pm-7 pm
Offenders caught:u00a03
Commuters speak
Ashok Limbachiya, who was with his wife, said, "I don't understand why these drivers ask passengers for the fare when they are least interested in ferrying them? All one gets to hear are the umpteen refusals."
Rosy Sheikh said, "It appears that the drivers are doing the job because they are forced to. They don't just refuse passengers, but at times even hurl abuses at them."


Enough of your excuses: Traffic officials reprimand an errant driver
who snubbed a short distance fare for a long one. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abediu00a0

Auto drivers speak
Ashok Kumar Maurya: "I never said no. It was the passenger's mistake. It was him who failed to notice me nodding in approval to his destination."

Naresh Yadav: "This is not my auto. Since I was on my way to hand over the vehicle to the owner, I refused the fare."

Text: Vaishali Chandra

Place: Shivaji Nagar
Time: 5 pm-7 pm
Offenders caught: 2
Commuters speak
Puja Kokan said, "Wasting 20 minutes to find an auto that is ready to ply me to my choice of destination has become a routine."

Manoj Padhye said, "On a regular day, I prefer walking to my residence that is close by. But today, I'm not feeling well and want to take an auto. However, none of the drivers are interested in plying a short distance fare."

Auto driver speaks
Manjit Kaur: "I got some important work to finish and was on my way home. Hence I said no to the passenger."

Text: Anamika More