Penalise auto drivers who don’t adhere to meter

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Commuters in Panvel and Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, have alleged widespread overcharging by autorickshaw drivers who refuse to operate by meter and instead demand flat, arbitrary fares. Passengers claim that short-distance rides are often denied unless they agree to pre-determined rates, as our report states.

A mid-day ground check found a driver charging Rs 50 for a 900-metre ride from Panvel railway station to Pillai College, nearly double the metered fare of about R26. Similar flat-rate demands were observed at auto stands in Ulwe, where meters were not switched on.

An Ulwe resident stated in our report that drivers decide rates at their discretion and refuse rides if passengers argue. The autorickshaw drivers claim that meter use is not followed locally, arguing that short trips are not financially viable due to fuel costs and waiting time. The police have responded, saying that they have conducted several decoy operations, with personnel dressing in civilian clothes, posing as passengers and then nabbing violators.

We need the strictest possible action for those who do not adhere to the meter. While this is about a particular area, we do see non-metered plying elsewhere in the city. We have Bandra East as one example where auto drivers operate based solely on their whims and fancies. Commuters at Bandra Kurla Complex literally have no option. It may be very well for authorities to say commuters need to complain, but people fear ramifications as they commute the same route daily. Traffic police need to take very tough action.