09 June,2011 06:33 AM IST | | Sheetal Sukhija
Despite Joint Transport Commissioner's order last year to set up 10 control rooms to register complaints against errant auto rickshaw drivers, numbers are currently not functional.
When the Bangalore Traffic Department passed an order against errant auto drivers in December 2010, little did it know that the initiative would fall flat. While complaints of errant auto drivers are topping the list of traffic related complaints at Bangalore's Traffic Management Centre, Joint Transport Commissioner Richard V D'Souza agrees that the situation has gotten out of hand.
Inaction: In spite of 50 complaints being registered in three months,
many complainants say that no action has been taken against
errant drivers. Representation pic
An order dated December 6, 2010 was passed by the Joint Transport Commissioner to set up 10 control rooms across the city to register complaints against errant auto drivers.u00a0 Six months down the line, none of these control room numbers are functional. Whenever complaints reach the control room, complainants are directed to lodge email complaints to jctbng-trans-ka@nic.in. However, in spite of over 50 complaints pouring in, many complainants say that no action has been taken.
Aggressive drivers
Tia Raina, an advertiser claims to have lodged a complaint of harassment at the Koramangala RTO, but has not received any response yet. "My friend and I were going home in an auto at 8 pm two weeks ago and we refused to pay double of what the meter indicated. The auto driver tried to beat me up and when we ran, he followed us. People around remained mute spectators to the entire drama. Finally with the help of a few willing samaritans, we took the driver to the Adugodi police station. To our horror, the inspector simply let him go without filing a complaint."
Despite lodging a complaint with the RTO later, they were told to settle the matter themselves. "We even wrote a mail, but did not get any response after that," she added.
Taken for a ride
Software engineer Nagaraj Bayanna faced a similar problem. "I travel from Trinity Circle to Brigade Road on a daily basis and each day I am cheated by auto drivers. I have called and registered complaint several times, but no action has been taken yet," Bayanna said.
This reporter called six RTOs across the city to lodge a complaint, but was directed to the Joint Transport Commissioner's office. The office staff claimed that the anti-errant auto drivers' initiative is ineffective now and no complaint can be filed. Records at the Traffic Management Centre state that complaints have been pouring in and they are dutifully directed to the JTC office.
"We direct all complaints to the traffic commissioner's office immediately. All details, including the registration number of the auto, license number and a brief of the incident is registered. The officials just have to act on these complaints," said R Sudhir, PSI, TMC.
Meanwhile, Joint Transport Commissioner Richard V D'Souza believes that the delayed response system is to be blamed. "We have received a large number of complaints, but initially it was hard to trace the auto driver as most of them gave fake addresses. This is one of the reasons why we thought of a plan, which would help to trap them on the spot. Traffic constables were assigned at select RTO offices, and as soon as a person called, a constable would rush to the spot of incident." said D'Souza.
He added, "But with this plan is not error free and we have been misled several times. Hence, the email system has taken shape now. The response is however delayed and something will be done about it," said D'Souza.
Going forward
A group of activists in collaboration with the transport department have started an online initiative called 'Auto Watch'(https://www.bangaloreauto.kiirti.org/), where at least 20 complaints are filed each day. These complaints will also be directed to the JTC office. It now remains to be seen if action will be taken in this regard.
Complaint galore
List of complaints registered at Auto Watch between March and June this yea
20u00a0u00a0u00a0 Refusing fare
16u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0Taking longer route
10u00a0u00a0u00a0 Demanding more fare
8u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 Faulty meters
5u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 Cheating and extortion
5u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 Abusing commuters
4u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 Not wearing ID card
