The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Send an SMS to summon an autorickshaw

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 24, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Send an SMS to summon an autorickshaw

Staff Reporter

Easy Auto project will be launched in city soon

BANGALORE: How many times have you hired an autorickshaw only to be snubbed by the driver who is not inclined to go your way? This situation could be eased soon. The Regional Transport Authority (RTA), in association with a private IT firm, is all set to launch the Easy Auto system, and Bangaloreans can hereafter summon an autorickshaw to their doorstep by just sending an SMS or making a phone call.

Bangalore Urban district RTA on Thursday approved the Easy Auto project proposed by the traffic police to help the passengers call autorickshaws round the clock.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Reddi told presspersons that Internet World Wide (IWW), a private firm, would implement the project under RTA's supervision. The project, said to be the first of its kind in the country, would be launched in a month.

IWW will set up and operate a web-based call centre where a registered passenger can place a request for an autorickshaw pick-up 30 minutes prior to his journey. Easy Auto, which will function round the clock, will send the vehicle that is nearest to his pick-up point.

A passenger has to register himself with Easy Auto by paying a nominal amount, to be fixed by the RTA. The passenger has to provide the addresses of his usual pick-up points, workplace or residence and Easy Auto will issue a code number which is to be quoted while summoning the autorickshaw either through Easy Auto's call centre or mobile phone or website.

The call centre will in turn inform autorickshaw drivers within a half-km radius. The passenger has to pay for the distance travelled by the autorickshaw to pick him up, according to Mr. Reddi.

Easy Auto will also set up kiosks across the city through which unregistered passengers can avail themselves of the service. They will be charged an additional service fee.

As an Easy Auto community member, the registered driver will get low-cost medical and accident insurance. A part of the income earned by the Easy Auto will be earmarked for driver welfare activities such as providing health and educational facilities to their family members. Preference will be given to relatives of drivers while recruiting the staff for the call centre, Mr. Reddi said.

The traffic police proposed Easy Auto project as the public is being put to hardship following drivers refusing to go on hire. The new system will also prevent drivers demanding excess fare and misbehaving with passengers.

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Karnataka