Police look the other way as rickshaws fleece commuters

MiD DAY finds constables busy reading newspapers in traffic assistance booth at railway station as auto drivers refuse short-distance fares and openly overcharge commuters; story no different at Swargate

The traffic assistance booth inaugurated with much fanfare this January at the Pune railway station does not seem to be fulfilling its assigned role, as the menace of overcharging by autorickshaw drivers and refusal to ply short distances continues. There are complaints galore from commuters, who face a harrowing time from the automen. Chinmay Herwadkar, a techie working with a multinational company, said: "Rickshaw drivers fleece commuters every day at the station. They demand up to Rs 180 for going to Kharadi, which usually is Rs 80. They refuse to charge according to tariff and if I have to come from Kharadi to Pune railway station, they demand Rs 80 extra or refuse to ply."

The scene at the Swargate bus stand. Pics/Krunal Gosavi

Errant auto drivers
When MiD DAY visited the Pune railway station, we found rickshaw drivers openly bargaining with commuters. The drivers were busy fixing rates for longer routes like Kharadi, Yerwada and Pimpri-Chichwad. When MiD DAY approached three constables inside the traffic assistance booth, they were busy flipping through newspapers and chose to ignore the issue. Commuters who wanted to go short distances had a tough time and were seen pleading with autorickshaw drivers.

Commuter woes: The traffic assistance booth at the Pune railway
station

In one case, a rickshaw driver initially refused to accept a short-distance fare, but agreed when the commuter began approaching the traffic assistance booth. A similar traffic assistance booth was also inaugurated at Swargate bus stand, but it too has done little to tackle commuters' woes.A post-graduate student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "I have hardly seen any cop trying to intervene when we are harassed by the autorickshaw drivers, who resort to overcharging. For going to Gokhalenagar, the fair normally is around Rs 65, but rickshaw drivers demand around Rs 200."

The Other Side
DCP Vishwas Pandhare (Traffic) said: "Due to the palkhi bandobast, the duties of sub-inspector level officers had to be rescheduled, which is why the booths are being manned by constables. But I will personally look into the matter and surprise checks will be conducted at both the booths."