The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Officials to supervise pre-paid auto counter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Officials to supervise pre-paid auto counter

Staff Reporter

Transport Department warns of disciplinary action against offenders

Chennai : The Transport Department has asked motor vehicle inspectors to supervise the pre-paid autorickshaw centre at Chennai Central till 10.30 p.m. every day to ensure that drivers charge only the stipulated fares.

In a release here on Tuesday, Joint Transport Commissioner K. Yogarajan said some prepaid auto-rickshaw drivers were reported to have refused to ply short distances from Central. A notice board furnishing details of distance and corresponding prepaid fare from Central to important places in the city will be put up near the prepaid centre within three days. About 1,200 commuters use the prepaid auto system every day.

Transport authorities have started a drive to check whether electronic fare meters have been recalibrated. Defaulters will be penalised, as the last date for recalibration of electronic meters was March 11. Mechanical meters should be recalibrated before April 25.

Representatives from drivers welfare associations under the Indian National Trade Union Congress met Transport Minister K.N. Nehru on Monday. They expressed gratitude for the scheme to offer permits to 10,000 new LPG autorickshaws and provide grants to 5,000 unemployed persons to purchase auto-rickshaws. However, the criteria of age (25 - 40 years) and educational qualifications (a pass in class X) should be relaxed when grants are offered, they appealed. Persons who have a light motor vehicle licence for at least five years could be given the grant.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu