The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Good response to pre-paid autorickshaw system

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 09, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Good response to pre-paid autorickshaw system

By Our Staff Correspondent

Passengers waiting to board autorikshaws at the pre-paid stand at the Mysore Railway Station.

MYSORE, FEB. 8. For the harassed tourists and commuters, the newly introduced pre-paid autorickshaw system at the city railway station has come as a boon, even as it has encountered resistance from a small number of autorickshaw drivers and owners.

Encouraged by the response to the system, the city police have proposed to introduce 114 new points across the city in addition to over 40 points at present. With a fixed fare calculated based on average distance, the passengers arriving at the railway station have been heaving a sigh of relief.

A few autorickshaw drivers, who feel that the fare fixed under the system is unfair and less that the normal meter fare, are displaying some resistance and displeasure. The police personnel deployed at the railway station struggle to convince the drivers to enter the pre-paid area. They have ensured that the small entrance from the station to Babu Jagjivan Ram Circle is closed to prevent multiple exit points. Despite this, a large number of autorickshaws wait around the circle for passengers, which at times lead to traffic chaos.

According to S.K. Subba Rao, a retired lecturer, who arrived from Bangalore, the fare under the pre-paid system had come down by a few rupees when compared to that of the fares under the normal condition. He said, "While I used to pay around Rs. 30 to go my residence in Kuvempunagar, I have to pay Rs. 25 under the pre-paid system."

The number of autorickshaws voluntarily coming into the railway station to pick up passengers has decreased, while only those who come to drop the passengers are diverted to the pre-paid system.

Stating that the new system was yet to stabilise, the Police Commissioner, Praveen Sood, told The Hindu that the scheme has been well accepted by the public. He said, "The pre-paid system will not affect the earnings of the autorickshaw drivers."

He said that the proposal to increase the number of points has been sent for approval. The system needs time to stabilise and function smoothly. He ruled out starting a second pre-paid terminus until the system at the station succeeded. While the first system normally takes time, launching the second will be easier, he said.

Regarding the drivers' reluctance to be a part of the system, he said that they had encountered limited resistance. He said that the Police Department had sought space for parking more autorickshaws, which will augur well with the system.

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