In the absence of fare meters, auto drivers take commuters for a ride

Vijayawada: If you are new to Vijayawada, or are travelling to the city, make sure you hone your bargaining skills. In the absence fare meters, auto drivers are taking for a ride, literally. Those who have a fair idea about the city, manage to strike a bargain. However, those who are new to the city, and not know much about it, find it difficult to deal with auto drivers.No auto can be found on Vijayawada roads with a meter. Neither the traffic police, nor transport department enforce the rules. According to Andhra Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, and Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, every auto rickshaw plying in municipal areas must have fare meter authorised and stamped by legal metrology department. No auto shall be given a permit without having a price meter. The rules were never implemented in the city after they were framed. In 2014 a circular was issued making auto meters compulsory, but the orders remain on papers till date. Buckling under severe political pressure, officials shelved the circular without even deciding upon the fare chart for auto rickshaws.Auto unions, backed by political parties, are so strong in the city that any move officials brought to regulate auto rickshaws are being immediately countered with their political clout.Auto drivers continue to fleece commuters. Both traffic cops and transport officials think that any move they take on fare meters will only bring more trouble. The buzz in both the departments is that no official will attempt to enforce the meter rule unless he/she wants a transfer from the existing position.The seven-seater share autos plying on RTC bus routes provide some convenience to the passengers, albeit at a higher fare than municipal buses. But these autos are overload passengers, putting their lives at risk. The three-seater autos only run on hire basis. Auto drivers charge fare at their will. If it is an odd hour, or you are travelling to/from a remote location, they charge more.After Vijayawada became a part of the capital region, many people from other places migrated to city. As they do not know the city and distances, auto drivers charge them exorbitantly. M Vignesh, who came to city to attend a conference, told that he paid Rs 150 for a distance on only 5 km. “I thought Hyderabad auto drivers were notorious, but Vijayawada drivers are even worse,” he said. D Ravi Sekhar, who works for a private company, also said that Vijayawada auto drivers speak nicely otherwise, but are rude when it comes to charging fares.A senior official in the transport department said that it is high time the meter rule was implemented in the city. “Many people are come from outside, and do not know the city. They will a get wrong impression about the city, if they are cheated by auto drivers,” he said.GFX:13,000 permits officially given to auto rickshaws in Vijayawada cityOfficials estimate an equal number of autos are plying without permitsTransport department gives permits only if the fare meter was installed in the autoDrivers hire meters for their autos when they go to RTA office to apply for permitOnce the permit is given, the meter is removedPeople have to bargain hard to negotiate a fair price with auto drivers People who have recently migrated to the city suffer moreThere is no fixed price chart set by the authorities for autos in the cityThe compulsory fare meter rule has never been implemented in VijayawadaOfficials keep quite because of severe political pressure