Bangalore Meter Jam (say no to Autos)

For Bangloreans, verbal spats and arguments with auto drivers have become the norm. But, Krishnaraja Marakini’s experience is a matter of concern. The IT professional was abused and assaulted by some auto drivers for refusing to pay over and above the meter fare.
    
The alleged assault took place on September 30. The 42-year-old resident of Malleshpalya commutes by cab every day, but was forced to opt for an auto that day. “It was around 9 am. The cab was late. Since I had some emergency work in office, I decided to take an auto till Silk Board from where I planned to board a Volvo bus to my workplace in Electronic City. I walked to the auto stand. When I boarded an auto, the driver made it clear that I need to pay one-and-a-half times the meter fare. I refused,” Krishnaraja says.
    
As he was getting out of the auto, the driver told him to ‘pay the minimum fare for sitting in the auto’. Krishnaraja alleges, “He also demanded to know why I sat in his auto if I did not have money for the fare. I was taken aback by his aggression, but refused to pay.” Even as he was backing away, five to six other auto drivers allegedly surrounded him. They abused and pushed him around.

For the full report in the Bangalore Mirror, click here

Everybody has had some unpleasant experience or the other with the auto lot. And, of course, there are the odd cases of criminal acts, like even with cab drivers - the Pratibha rape and murder being a case in point. But, when something like this happens, and at 9AM on a week day, it is as if the mafia has taken command and is throwing a challenge to the Society. One hopes the Commissioner, the tough cookie that he is, takes note and shows this lot in their place.
 

I live in an apartment along the sarjapur signal. Total mall is about a kilometer from there.

One day, myself and my husband came after shopping in Total, with rather large shopping bags in hand (which, i guess, told the auto drivers - "Here comes your prey").

We asked for a drop to our apartment, and many of them demanded Rs 50/- we were not willing to pay that.. So started walking home, meanwhile waving at other autos coming by. One guy stopped and agreed to go for Rs 30/- 

Thus we agreed to the fare, and got into the auto. He stopped at the main gate to the apartment. Our home was a good 400 meters away from the gate, and he refused to go further without paying him Rs20/- extra. He argued that we asked for the apartment, and he fulfilled his part of the agreement by dropping us at the gate, and we should pay the Rs 30/- as our part of the agreement. For any additional distance we have to pay more.

I felt as though I was cheated, although what he said was true.

I just returned after a two week visit to Chennai where I had to use autos frequently.

My experience there was eqully bad or much worse than at B'lore.

No auto at Chennai uses meter. But they are agitating for further increase in official rates.

None of them ply for less than Rs. 50.

They regularly demand three/four times the fare.

For the same trip I could get auto varying from Rs. 100 to Rs. 250 (this with much haggling).

The Transport minister there annonced the starting of Minibuses to give relief to commuters from autos.

Another news I noticed was that at Mumbai they have introduced 'Shate Taxis'

K.V.Pathy

Syed, on public vs private side, Autos are neither here nor there  - their number, their pricing is regulated by the government. Either govt should just let go, or regulate better. Stop issuing auto licenses to individuals, give it only to organized companies who can be traced, can be sued for fraud if meter is proved to be damaged, and whose operating license can be canceled on receiving 50+ complaints, and then see if things get better. But govt won't do that, because Autos are run as a welfare service (economically backward people get auto licenses). How much balance is needed between welfare and broader public good, is govt's choice.

@bansal - when I said there is no option, I meant what do I do to go from HAL Airport Road to Bagmane Tech Park? Walk 3.5 kilometers? There is no bus or shuttle to rely upon. Should take meter jam to the next step by creating alternatives to autos, by lobbying for local area taxis, or shuttles operated by BMTC or large office building operators.

Most importantly, the government should set a maximum price at which the fare is to be calculated that is higher than the present price and allows the drivers to take fares below that price as well.

This allows room for innovation and let entrepreneurs enter the market if they feel they can run autos at lesser prices and still generate revenue in other ways (eg: auto rickshaw advertising). This is the impetus the auto industry needs. If properly implemented, probably there would be no need for drives such as ‘meter jam’ and productivity stifling strikes by auto drivers.

For the full article by Nihkil Ravichandar, in the Deccan Herald, click here

Agree totally with the author. And, that's more or less what I had suggested for the opened up (to private sector) public bus transport services also, when I said "The only condition need be a fairly liberal upper limit on the 'per ride' charge, which in all likelihood will be fixed, leaving all the operational details to him" - check this.