The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Feedback sought on pre-fixed autorickshaw system

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 09, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Feedback sought on pre-fixed autorickshaw system

Special Correspondent

Commuters’ concern over limited number of destinations
Officials say this problem will be addressed

CHENNAI: The Transport department is looking for feedback from commuters on ways to improve the ‘pre-fixed’ autorickshaw system at the Chennai Central Railway Station.

Passengers arriving at the station can collect a pre-addressed postcard to Joint Transport Commissioner, on which they can submit their proposals. A release, issued by Joint Transport Commissioner K. Yogarajan, said the feedback programme was in operation already and they had even received some positive feedback on the system.

As per the current arrangement at the station, passengers have to pay a service charge of Rs. 2 for getting a computerised receipt on the fare and the destination. They can then board an autorickshaw near the counter and pay the amount mentioned in the receipt on reaching the destination.

Transport officials have said they are considering a true pre-paid arrangement at the station, through which the passengers remit the entire fare at the counter and not just the service charge.

Mysore model

The autorickshaw drivers have to return to the counter with the counterfoil signed by the commuter to collect their fare. Such a system is in operation in Mysore.

Another concern for commuters has been the limited number of destination at the pre-fixed counters.

There have been just 160 destinations, often forcing several commuters to spend more.

Transport officials have said they would increase the number of destinations.

LPG autorickshaws

In a release, the department said it had decided to extend by a month the deadline for applicants of new autorickshaw permits to submit their consent letters from bankers or financiers.

The Joint Transport Commissioner said applicants for the new permits, including the 5,000 LPG autorickshaws with subsidy and another 5,000 LPG vehicles without subsidy, had to produce a consent letter from their banks or financiers that they would be granted loan for the scheme.

Moreover, a certificate should be produced from an automobile dealer saying that a new LPG autorickshaw has been booked by the applicant.

The initial deadline for the submission of the letters was August 8. But on request from the driver unions, the transport department has extended the deadline by a month.

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