Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Solve our problems, auto drivers tell police

HUBLI: Objecting the joint inspection of autorickshaws to ensure installation of fare meters, members of the Dharwad District Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union have urged the authorities to first solve the problems being faced by them.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, Babajan Mudhol, president of the union, and Devanand Jagapur, general secretary, clarified that the autorickshaw drivers were not opposed to installation of fare meters in their vehicles.

However, there were several issues, which required to be tackled by the officers of the Police and the Transport Department before introducing any programme, they said.

Mr. Jagapur alleged that there was high level of corruption at the office of Department of Weights and Measures and the Regional Transport Office (RTO). There were 150 agents operating in the RTO, he added.

He urged the authorities concerned to take the opinion of the public before making fare meters mandatory in the twin cities. There were several routes in the twin cities where bus facilities were not adequate and in such places autorickshaw drivers ferry the passengers by taking Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 a person. The police should take the opinion of such people in this regard, he said.

Mr. Jagapur alleged that only autorickshaw drivers were targeted as there was no “income” from them for the police and the RTO.

He alleged that the buses belonging to private transporters were allowed to park on busy roads even in no parking areas, but only autorickshaw drivers were being fined.

He said the association members would appeal to the Police Commissionerate to solve their problems by convening a meeting of all the stakeholders.

Later, several autorickshaw drivers held a meeting under the aegis of the union and decided to submit a memorandum to the Police Commissioner in this regard.

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

Stories in this Section

Solve our problems, auto drivers tell police
Raid unearths property worth Rs. 1.3 crore
Gadag-Solapur rail line to be ready by January
Swamiji, followers arrested on charge of kidnapping, released
Shifting

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu