14 May,2010 09:48 AM IST | | Team MiD DAY
Auto drivers on East Street happy about campaign, say they never refuse to take any passenger to his destination
On Day 5 of Week 2 of the autorickshaw campaign launched by MiD DAY and Radio One in association with the traffic police and the Regional Transport Office, 13 errant auto drivers were booked. The MiD DAY team decided to station itself outside SGS Mall, at George auto stand near George restaurant and even at MG road wonderland and asku00a0 the auto driversu00a0 to go to Shantai hotel in the same area. Most of the drivers either did not want to go or demanded more money.
At East Street four drivers were asked, of which only one refused to go to Kondhwa saying he won't get a return fare. MiD DAY team then moved to SGS mall along with the traffic police officers. The traffic police van stood at a little distance to keep an eye on errant drivers.u00a0 The auto drivers at East Street were happy to know about the campaign. They said that they never deny any passenger.
Reporter: Kranti Vibhute
Place:u00a0 East street
Time: 4.50 PM-5.15 PM
Offenders booked: 1
The campaign started at East street where the reporter asked auto drivers if they will go to Kondhwa. The first auto driver who was ready to go to Kondhwa claimed that usually auto drivers from East street refuse to go to Kondhwa as it is an isolated area.
He said that there are rich people in kondhwa who hardly hire autos but roam around in their own vehicles.
Reporter: Kranti Vibhute Got him: Traffic police officers book an auto driver who refused a short-distance fare from MG Road
Place: SGS mall
Time: 5.30 PM-5.50 PM
Offenders booked: 3
The campaign was started along with the traffic police officers of Lashkar department. Assistantu00a0 Police Inspector Arvind Gokule of Lashkar traffic department came with two constables. Three auto drivers were booked by the traffic police for refusing to go to nearby Shantai hotel.
Out of three, two asked for Rs 10 more to go to Shantai hotel close to SGS mall. They claimed that since the hotel is nearby, they won't get a passenger on return.
Reporter: Kranti Vibhute
Place:u00a0 George auto stand
Time: 6 PM-6.30 PM
Offenders booked: 4
According to the traffic department, the autorickshaws standing at the auto stand are not supposed to refuse fare and are to be booked according to the traffic rules. When the reporter asked the first auto driver to go to Shantai hotel, he refused to go and said, " We don't go to that side; we usually go to Kondhwa."
The second driver also refused and said, "None of the auto drivers at the stand will take you to Shantai hotel, they all will ferry passengers who want to go to Kondhwa." One driver even argued with the traffic police officer.
The officer said, "I never knew that such arrogant auto drivers are there in my area. They are the real criminals if they are refusing passengers and later arguing with cops. Such auto drivers should be taught a lesson. I will keep a watch on them so that henceforth they will not refuse passengers."
Reporter: Kranti Vibhute
Place:u00a0 MG road wonderland
Time: 6.45 PM-7.15 PM
Offenders booked: 1
Out of five, only one auto driver refused to go to Shantai hotel. The auto driver who refused demanded an extra Rs 10. He was trying to flee from the spot, but the reporter engaged him in talks waiting for the traffic police to come and book him.
u00a0
Reporter: Abid Hasan
Place:u00a0 SGS Mall
Time: 1.15 am-1.45 am
Offenders booked: 4
There were very few rickshaws available at SGS mall. The reporter knew that he would be charged extra fare at night so he asked autorickshaw drivers if they would go a shorter distance. The rickshaw drivers asked for Rs 20 to Rs 30 extra for going to Shantai hotel from SGS mall.
The auto drivers said to the reporter that he would not get any rickshaw at that time so they were demanding extra charge from him. Some of the rickshaw drivers even bargained and came down to Rs 25 from Rs 30, but the reporter refused to go with extra charge.
One auto driver was nice to the reporter. When approached, he said that he would go by meter and would not charge any extra money. He said, "What do I do by charging extra? I won't leave happily if I cheat my passenger." The reporter congratulated him.
The last auto driver that was asked to go to E-square asked for Rs 30 extra along with half return. He was demanding a total of Rs 90 from the reporter giving an excuse that he would not get any return fare at that hour in the night.
