04 November,2009 08:58 AM IST | | Debarati Palit
With 500 autorickshaw accidents every day, Pune's drivers have given a new meaning to the term 'rash driving'.
There were 36,268 cases registered against autorickshaw drivers last year and Rs 46 lakh was collected as fine. This year the number of cases has trebled with 1,02,863 cases being registered so far and Rs 1.2 crore collected as fine. And there's still tow more months to go for the end of the year.
There is, however, no plan to control the nuisance. Both the traffic police and the RTO say they are "working on their respective plans".
Vijay Pasule, inspector, planning, traffic department, told MiD DAY, "We are trying to cope with the problem and have met the union heads, but haven't been able to come up with a solution."
Pune has 45,000 rickshaws registered with the RTO and around 20,000 unregistered vehicles.
Amar Patil from the RTO said, "All autorickshaws and their drivers have authorised licence and registration numbers. Without the licence, no one is allowed to purchase the vehicle." But Baba Shinde, member of Regional Transport Authority (RTA), said, "Of the 20,000 unregistered vehicles, only 5,000 drivers have licences and permits."
"In most cases, we suspend the driver's licence for 10 days or fine them according to the offences. At times, permits are also suspended," said Patil, about action taken in such cases.
