Traffic police book 22 auto drivers as campaign against overcharging, refusal of fare moves to more parts of city
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Traffic police book 22 auto drivers as campaign against overcharging, refusal of fare moves to more parts of city The PAPERWORK: An auto driver is booked for refusing fare on Senapati Bapat Road. Pics/Nikhil Ghorpade
On Day 2 of Week 2 of the MiD DAY and Radio One campaign against overcharging and refusal of fare by autorickshaws, reporters helped the law catch up with errant rickshaw men on Senapati Bapat Road in the afternoon and in Koregaon Park, Hadapsar and Sahakar Nagar in the evening.
Twenty-two offenders were booked. The afternoon session saw three auto drivers booked, the evening 19.
The campaign ufffd launched by MiD DAY and Radio One in association with the traffic police and the Regional Transport Office ufffd this time checked out auto stands as well, as suggested by the traffic inspector accompanying the reporters.
According to traffic policemen, auto drivers had now become alert after a week of the campaign and refusals had come down.
"So far, 37 licences have been confiscated since the campaign began," said DCP Manoj Patil. "Stringent action will be taken against the rickshaw drivers."
In the evening, reporters spread out in the busy Koregaon Park area to see how auto drivers treated commuters during the rush hour as offices closed for the day.
A German woman, who did not want to give her name, said she had been staying in Koregaon Park for two months and the auto drivers were generally good. "I had an auto driver refuse me one day, but otherwise they have taken me to my destination, by the meter," she said.
But, no sooner than she had spoken, an auto driver was seen speeding off after refusing three burkha-clad women, who had a child with them and were making their way home.
Here's whatu00a0we found 
Reporters:u00a0Krani Vibhuteu00a0and Sonia Rodrigues
Place: Senapati Bapat Road
Time: 1 pm-2 pm
Offenders booked: 3
As reporters approached auto stands, the three traffic police officers accompanying them stood a little distance away to see how the auto men responded when any law enforcers were not within sight.
At 1 pm the reporters approached the auto stand opposite the Chaturshringi temple. The first auto driver in the queue was asked to go to Sanghvi, and did not refuse.
The reporters then crossed over and went to the auto stand next to the temple. The first auto driver was ready to go to Sanghvi, but when the reporters said they had made a spot change in their plan and now wanted to head for E-Square, the auto driver refused. Three auto drivers in the queue behind him also refused. All had the same reason: it was time for lunch and they wanted to go in the direction where their meal was waiting for them.
All three were booked by the traffic police for refusing passengers.
Reporters: Shree Lahiri and Abid Hasan
Place: Koregaon Park
Time:u00a0 5.05 pm-7pm
Offenders booked: 10
The first hurdle was finding an auto that would take the reporters from Camp to Koregaon Park. The first rickshaw driver asked straightaway refused the reporters, the second agreed. The reporters reached a spot near German Bakery and again began asking rickshaws to take them to various destinations.
A family of three burkha-clad women and a child wanting to go to Jai Jawan Nagar in Yerwada hailed an auto, but were refused. The next auto agreed to take them to their destination.
The reporters then had seven auto drivers refuse to go to Kalyani Nagar. One of them even gave the reason that he would have to turn around and come back to go to Kalyani Nagar. Another said he would go but would charge extra. Yet another said he had to fuel up and would be back ufffd he did not keep his word.
Reporter: Vivek Sabnis
Place: Sarang Society (Sahakar Nagar)
Time: 7 pm-7.30 pm
Offenders booked: 3
The rickshaw stand at Sarang Society is a busy one. Autos often only accept long distance passengers. Reporter asked to be taken to nearby destinations like Padmawati and Tulshibaug Colony. Three refused and were booked. Some of auto drivers were rude, even to senior citizens.
Reporters: Vivek Sabnis and Jignesh Mistry
Place: Hadapsar Gaon
Time: 11.40 pm-12.15 am
Offenders booked: 6
Of the six, three were overcharging and the rest refused to ply to the destination mentioned. The rickshaw drivers refused to go short distances like Mohammadwadi - one rickshaw driver asked for Rs 50 to go there, refusing to use the meter. Another asked for Rs 100 to go to Magarpatta City. As the bus service is infrequent late in the night, autos exploit the situation to the hilt. Autos were taking commuters to Swargate for Rs 20 to Rs 30.
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