The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : ‘Pre-fixed’ fare auto system under scanner

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Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

‘Pre-fixed’ fare auto system under scanner

Karthik Subramanian

Tuesday’s drive ensured the system worked as it did on its inaugural day at the Central Railway Station

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

Bringing some order: A joint inspection by the Transport Department and the Railway Police under way at the Central Railway Station on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: The Transport Department and the Railway Police on Tuesday put under the scanner the ‘pre-fixed’ fare autorickshaw system at the Central Railway Station, in a bid to iron out problems facing commuters.

A team of officials, including the Regional Transport Officer (North), two Motor Vehicle Inspectors and some railway police constables, streamlined the movement of vehicles at the entry bay of the pre-fixed fare autorickshaw counter and ensured that touts did not lure passengers away to vehicles parked outside the station premises.

The inspection was conducted between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and during that time the system worked as it did on its inaugural day, without any hassles.

Far from perfect

At the end of the inspection, RTO (North) P. Vijayaraj admitted that the system was still far from perfect.

The computerised coupons that the passengers receive at the pre-fixed counters, for example, do not bear the registration numbers of the autorickshaws.

The column that is provided for the information in the computerised coupon is left empty.

Because of this, the passengers are at a disadvantage as there is no proof against the vehicle in case of overcharging.

Passengers have demanded that the system be made foolproof considering the high fares involved. The pre-fixed fares are 50 per cent higher than the regular fares: Rs.21 for the first 2 km and Rs.9 for every subsequent km. A service charge of Rs.2 per transaction is levied and the fares are fixed.

However, the autorickshaw drivers who operate from the pre-fixed fare stand, under the aegis of Chennai Central Railway Station Autodrivers and Commuters Association, said the registration numbers of the vehicles were not being entered to save on time. Entering the numbers individually for every vehicle would slow down the process, they claimed, adding that many passengers were in a hurry.

The association members also complained of the tout menace.

They said several unauthorised persons entered the Central Railway Station premises and solicited passengers for vehicle trips.

V. Munuswamy, general secretary of the association, said they had complained several times to the railway police but in vain.

Mysore model

Some users have suggested that Chennai follow the system that is followed in Mysore city.

Passengers arriving at the railway station there remit the entire charges for the journey at the counter. The drivers come back later in the day to collect their share, presenting the invoice bearing the passenger’s signature.

This put the passenger in a position of advantage with regard to overcharging and other complaints.

Asked about that system, Mr. Munuswamy said they had considered it, but said it would not work in the city. The idea was shot down after someone warned that the drivers could use colour photocopies of the invoices to claim more fare than was due to them.

Checks to continue

RTO (Enforcement) S. Mohanraman said such joint inspections with police would continue over the next fortnight.

He said lack of manpower to conduct the raids as well as lack of space to park the seized vehicles for not flagging their meters came in the way of conducting such drives frequently.

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