29 June,2010 08:29 AM IST | | Amit Singh
Commuters harassed at the hands of high-handed autowallahs after late night shows
Since the release of 'Rajneeti', the blockbuster by Prakash Jha, Mukesh Batra had been planning to watch the movie. But somehow he missed it every time he planned to go. Finally after weeks of release, Monday was the day when he got the chance to see the movie. He booked four tickets for his wife and children for the 9:30 show at PVR Rivoli at Connaught Place.u00a0 But he never thought that it will leave a bad taste in his mouth.
Mind it: Mukesh Batra waiting for an auto outside Rivoli cinema hall in
Connaught Placeu00a0pics/mid day
After the movie got over at 1 am, Batra's had to wait for almost an hour to go to West Patel Nagar, hardly 5-7 kms from the spot. MiD DAY reporter was there on the spot to take account of the situation.
"Actually we got bit late while coming out of the cinema hall. By the time we were out, there were hardly any auto rickshaws. We were left with no option but to stop there and wait for the autos passing by," said Batra, a businessman.
"I really feel sorry for my family, especially the two kids. Had it been the case, I would have never come to watch the movie by Metro. I just opted for it because it was convenient and faster mode of commuting. I thought I will get an auto to return home, but I was completely wrong. It's almost 1 in the night and we are still standing on the road. Had we started walking, we would have reached home," Batra added.
Looking at the gravity of the situation, MiD DAY reporter sought help of a local police officer taking rounds on his motor bike. The officer gave assurance and asked us to stay there and went away. In a while he came back with an auto rickshaw that was ready to go to the destination and that too by metre. Thanking MiD DAY and the police officer the family left.
Earlier while Batra's family was watching the movie, this correspondent reached Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, one of the most important landmarks in Connaught Place.u00a0 There he found a man, his wife and two kids waiting for an auto. The family took almost 20 minutes to get an auto rickshaw who agreed to drop them at their house in Kamla Nagar.
When the family finally sat down in the auto, the reporter slipped in and introduced himself to them. Quickly the wife who identified herself as Charu said, "This is a perpetual problem and these drivers only listen the police. The moment they will see them, they will run away from the spot. Otherwise they would have to carry the passengers by the meter."
