No more an autocratic ride

Take the latest Railway diktat to rein in cheating auto and taxi wallahs with a pinch of salt.

The Railway authorities, besides fixing the number of public vehicles that will operate from the New Delhi Railway Station, have decided to impose a fee on the drivers.

The taxi and auto drivers will now have to pay Rs 400 and Rs 200 per month respectively, to pick passengers from the station. "This will increase revenues for the Railways," a senior Northern Railway official said,u00a0 requesting anonymity. The authorities feel the move will also prevent the taxi and auto drivers from cheating passengers.

But the decision may create problems too. "The drivers who will come to drop passengers will not be allowed to pick people on their return journey. So, they will either start refusing to ferry passengers to railway stations or will start overcharging them," said an auto rickshaw union office bearer.

However, Northern Railway officials claimed that such fees are levied all across the country. Delhi was an exception. The Divisional Railway Manager, Northern Railway, Rakesh Saxena was not available for comments.

Auto and taxi unions have opposed the move and are also contemplating to move the court against it. According to auto unions, action should be taken against those who haven't registered themselves with pre-paid services. "Instead of restricting the movement of autos, the railway authorities should target illegal autos and taxis operating at stations," said Rakesh Sood, general secretary, Bharatiya Krantikari Auto-Rickshaw Driver Manch.