Auto drivers come up with innovative excuses to refuse fare, one flees the spot, leaving cop to drive vehicle out of way

On Day 3 of the auto campaign, it was obvious rickshaw drivers were totally oblivious to passenger problems and more engrossed in their domestic errands. They were more concerned about picking up or dropping their children, their wives and other family members. The Meter Down team apprehended two rickshaws who not only refused to take passengers but also argued with the police team that was present with the reporters.

Location: Kothrud, Big Bazar, Karvenagar
Time: 11.15 pm to 1.30 pm
Offenders caught:u00a05


Wrong place: An autorickshaw driver is given a ticket by a police
constable for parking his vehicle illegally at the stand near Big Bazar,
Kothrud. pic/Krunal Gosavi

The area around Big Bazar, Kothrud is infamous for rickshaws who refuse to ply by meter after 7 pm. During the day, they also tend to overcharge when they see commuters hauling heavy bags and desperate for an auto. Quite a few of the drivers who we tried to stop for refusing passengers tried to run away from the spot. We also noticed that it was a pattern among the auto men, not to ply commuters wanting to go to nearby destinations. A lot of the rickshaw drivers gave reasons like they were going to the petrol pump or that they were on school duty.


Mend your ways: Auto drivers pay the fine to the traffic police after
being booked by them. pic/Suhas Joshi

Silver lining
The MiD DAY team found only a single auto driver who agreed to a short distance fare. Vitthal Pathak (MH 12 AQ 9128) was the only auto driver who agreed to take the team from Karve Nagar to City Pride. Team MiD DAY also noticed that the number of auto drivers agreeing to go to certain place without any conditions was dwindling.