27 errant auto drivers booked, some without licence, uniform

MiD DAY Test Drive: Week 2, Day 1

27 errant auto drivers booked, some without licence, uniform

On Day One of second week of the MiD DAY and Radio One campaign in association with the traffic police and Regional Transport office, MiD DAY reporters got 27 errant auto drivers booked in Kalyani Nagar and the Pune University junction. While auto driver who demanded more money than warranted and those who refused fares were booked in the drive, there were some without even a licence or uniform. One such driver even confessed he had been caught for the same set of offences a week ago.

Here's what we found

Reporters: Kranti Vibhute and Abid Hasan
Place: Kalyani Nagar
Time: 6 pm-7 pm
Offenders Booked: 19
MiD DAY reporters found an auto driver refusing a foreigner to Costa Caf ufffd, saying he did not know where it was. The foreigner, who did not wish to be named, said, "How ridiculous that this auto driver doesn't know Costa Caf ufffd. He straight away refused to ferry me, claiming that he didn't know where Costa Caf ufffd was. When I asked another auto driver, he too refused to take me at first, but later agreed when I told him I would show him the way if he did not know where it was."

Another auto driver was asked by a reporter to be taken to Vimanu00a0 Nagar, but the driver refused the fare.

One auto driver started arguing with a reporter, saying he need not teach him about meter positions.

Of the 19 errant auto drivers booked in Kalyani Nagar, four refused to go to Viman Nagar, saying they wanted to go to Camp as they had some regular clients in that area. Some said they did not want to go to Viman Nagar as they did not get passengers there.
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Reporter: Alifiya Khan
Place: Pune University signal
Time: 10.30 pm-12.30 amu00a0
Offenders Booked: 8
At the busy Pune University junction, most auto drivers who were caught refusing fare or overcharging were also booked by the traffic police under other sections like faulty meters.
In all, eight autorickshaw drivers were booked for refusing fare and asking for extra money.
One driver managed to get away before the traffic police arrived. One auto driver turned out to be a repeat offender. Booked for overcharging, not carrying licence and not wearing the uniform, he said he had paid a heavy fine just eight days ago for the same reasons.