'Sir, pay extra for luggage'

On day 79 of MiD DAY's meter down campaign, a rogue driver argued with the traffic cops about charging passengers extra for the luggage

Place: Borivli Station (East)
Time: 10.15 am-12 pm
Offenders caught:u00a0 2


What's the harm in charging extra? An errant auto driver justifies
his act of charging the passenger extra for luggage. Pic/Mahesh Chafe

Commuters speak

Ashok Warke said, "On a daily basis, I'm subjected to at least 15 refusals before I find an auto that is ready to ply me. Despite requesting them, the errant autos ill-treat passengers."

Vaishali Malekar said, "Citing inflation, rising petrol and CNG prices, these rickshaw drivers ask for fare hikes from time to time. However, when it comes to executing their job of ferrying passengers, they are biased towards short distance passengers."

Snehlata Deolekar said, "Auto drivers must show some courtesy towards senior citizens and women passengers when it comes to plying them to short distances. Of late, it has become a Herculean task to find an auto that is ready to ply you short distance, especially during rush hours."

Auto driver speaks
Kedar Saw: "Since I wanted to go to Dahisar to leave my vehicle for repairs, I refused the passenger."

Spot of bother
Auto driver Ram Gupta was caught for demanding an outrageous amount from an out-station passenger to ply him to his destination.

When an on-duty traffic constable confiscated his licence, Gupta said, "Today is the last day to pay EMI for the vehicle and I'm on my way to the bank.

Moreover, the passenger had luggage on him. Drivers should be allowed to charge extra for the luggage."

Hearing Gupta's lame excuse, Head Constable Babulal Chure said, "As per rules, you have to ply by meter. If a driver charges exorbitant sum from a passenger, it amounts to soliciting which is punishable by law."

Test: Nivedita Dargalkar