With the new Interactive Voice Response System in place, the cops are confident that the number of such cases will decrease
With the new Interactive Voice Response System in place, the cops are confident that the number of such cases will decreaseTaking a cue from the 'Meter Jam' campaign against uncouth auto drivers that was observed in many cities on August 12 including Bangalore, the city police have decided to take up the issue seriously.
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As if to boost the campaign, the city police launched Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) to lodge complaint against these auto rickshaw drivers on August 19.
The system is set up at the Traffic Management Centre (TMC) where one can call and lodge a complaint against errant auto rickshaw drivers. Now the public can lodge complaints on these numbers: 25588444 and 25588555.
People can lodge complaints against unruly drivers on 25588444 and 25588555. As the complaints get recorded, they book the drivers and send notices."The public has to call on this number, and address his problem within a minute and the auto rickshaw number, which will get recorded. This system is available round the clock, and our people are working in three shifts. As the complaints get recorded, they book the drivers and send notices," said R Sudhir, a Traffic sub-inspector attached to the TMC.
Officials say that the IVRS system is more effective, and they are getting a good number of complaints.
MiD DAY did a reality check on how the system works and called one of these numbers leaving a complaint on the voice message against a driver for demanding more fare while refusing to operate the meter.
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Having done that, we went to the TMC to check the call received by the IVRS centre. The voice was recorded, and an official was listening to it, and had started the procedure to book a case against the driver.
Arun Kumar, a constable who was in-charge at the IVRS centre said, "We also get more number of irrelevant calls. Some of them are blank calls; some of them don't mention the rickshaw number, and keep repeating their grievances. Some even lodge law and order complaints."
As per the Indian Motors Act (IMV), the traffic police can book cases against 'refusal to hire' and 'demand excess fare'.
The fine amount for these offences is Rs.100. For complaints regarding defective meters, a mail will be sent from the traffic police to the concerned officer of Department of Meteorology (Weights and Measures) furnishing the details of the rickshaw to take appropriate action.
For other complaints such as manhandling and using abusive language against passengers, a complaint will have to filed at the nearest police station.
On an average, 80-120 calls are recorded at the IVRS everyday. The highest number of calls recorded so far in a day is 185 on August 18. Earlier, the procedure was calling 103, a toll free number (still in existence), to resolve traffic issues. But it had not many takers, as there was no proper response from the staff.
'We'll tonsure the head of the driver'
M Manjunath, president ofu00a0 Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Association, said, "The Association heads met the officers of Weights and Measures today, and decided to take strict action against rude auto drivers. The Association will tonsure the head of the driver and hand over to the police."
He added, "The faulty meter will be broken into pieces and the errant driver will have to buy a new one. We have proposed that all autos should have digital meters which costs Rs 3,600 from October 1."
Manjunath also said that au00a0 reward of Rs 10,000 will be given to the person who files a complaint against faulty meter,u00a0 after it is proved.
