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Errant auto drivers will face the music: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JAN. 3. Sounding a stern warning to errant autorickhsaw drivers in the Capital, the Transport Minister, Haroon Yusuf, today asserted that wrongdoers would be taken to task and their vehicles would be impounded if they are found violating the law. "Exploitation of passengers will not be allowed and the autorickshaw cartel will have to mend its ways by the month-end,'' he warned.

Stating that he had been flooded with complaints of overcharging and misbehaviour by autorickshaw drivers, Mr. Yusuf said it was high time they fell in line. "If they continue to operate like this, we will be forced to crack the whip. There is no justification for fleecing passengers and refusing to take them to their destinations. If their behaviour does not improve during the next fortnight, the Delhi Government would be forced to take stringent action against the errant drivers,'' he added.

Mr. Yusuf said the Government was totally with the commuters in this case and would not give in to the blackmail tactics of the autorickshaw drivers. He said he had a meeting with the autorickshaw union leaders and placed before them all the facts. "They have been told to improve their conduct and functioning,'' he added.

Stating that the Delhi Government was gearing up to launch a crackdown against the errant autorickshaw drivers, the Transport Minister said he would be forming around 80 squads to discipline the drivers. These squads would be drawn from the Transport Department and the Delhi Transport Corporation and deployed at various locations in the Capital. They would not only check faulty meters, but would also take to task those drivers who do not run their vehicles on electronic meters or harass the passengers. The Department would also be seeking the help of the traffic police to implement this drive that will be taken to its logical conclusion.

In fact, Mr. Yusuf said efforts were being made to improve the functioning of the Helpline set up to register complaints against the errant authorickshaw owners. On the other hand, Mr. Yusuf also talked about reviving the pre-paid system at various points in the city and said the project could be taken up under the Bhagidari scheme entailing citizen-government partnership. He said the Resident Welfare Associations as well as the Market Traders Associations could be enrolled to run these pre-paid booths to ensure that the commuters get a fair deal. "I will take up the matter with the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and seek her approval for implementation of this project under the Bhagidari scheme. If this can be organised, it will help in disciplining the autorickshaw drivers,'' he added.

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