Day 1: Auto passengers’ hopes dashed

BHOPAL: Citizens of Bhopal had pinned their hopes on December 7 as a day when their auto woes would come to an end. But this was not to be. TOI spoke to some commuters of the city and this is what came up. Pushpa Makhija, a resident of Arera Colony, had a harrowing time to negotiate fare with an auto driver. The route was Bittan Market. Initially, auto driver charged Rs 60 from Shahpura, but after a heated round of haggling he settled for Rs 50, still way over the normal fare.She says, “Such behaviour is common among these people. I am really tired of such incidences. Some system needs to be in place soon.”
When asked about meter and uniform rules, she said the auto driver was neither sticking to meter nor wore uniform. Besides, his behaviour was far from polite.
Mukesh Punjabi had a similar story to tell. He was on his way from the main railway station to New Market. Not only did the auto driver take another passenger, he took a detour via the BHEL township resulting in delay of half an hour. Fuming, he asked the auto driver to charge lower fare as the auto ride was shared, he got an earful instead. The auto driver again didn’t charge as per a calibrated meter. Nor was he wearing a uniform. “They are more of a nuisance. I was in a rush and it was absolutely unwarranted.”
Soni Yadav, M Phil, student took an auto ride to the Upper Lake area with her friends. Firstly, Rs 60 were charged as fare from New Market. When she asked the driver about metered fare, he replied it wasn’t working and it was pointless to even expect so. After much bargaining, the fare was brought down to Rs 50.
It did not end there. The ride back from the lake was even worse. The fare quoted was Rs 80 to New Market by one driver. When she asked another, she was greeted with the same exorbitant rate. “All of them are cunning enough to watch each other’s backs. No one will bring down the fare.”
KS Chouhan, deputy controller, department of weights and measures said cases had been booked according to the Legal Metrology Act, 2000. A fine of Rs 2,000 had been imposed.
Anand Rawat, DSP traffic, said fine ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 1,500 was imposed on errant auto drivers for not complying with norms other than calibrated meter.