Kerala - Kochi   

Pre-paid autorickshaw service overcomes hitches

KOCHI: The autorickshaw services in the city have come under the scrutiny of the police in the wake of several complaints against them. Though the authorities had resorted to some measures earlier like the customer complaint card system, they failed to make the desired impact. Now a pre-paid autorickshaw service has been put in place in the city.

City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said the initial troubles have been overcome. A pre-paid system has been much in demand from the public and will continue to operate smoothly, he said.

Currently, such a service is being efficiently operated at the Thiruvananthapuram railway station and elsewhere. Once the traveller pays a nominal amount at the traffic police counter, he/she is ensured of a trouble-free service. The police arrange the pre-paid autorickshaw service.

A similar arrangement was put in place at the Ernakulam Junction and Town railway stations, but it evoked a negative response from a few drivers. These drivers, backed by some trade unions, wanted to thwart the system to suit their own ends. The move was effectively scuttled by the police. Most autorickshaws in the city have non-functional fare meters. Drivers, on numerous occasions, are known to have demanded exorbitant fares, leading to quarrels with the passengers.

The police had introduced a customer complaint card system so that the cases could be taken up. But few people took care to register such complaints, apprehending bothersome follow-up procedures. The failure of the well-intentioned move of the police proved more helpful to those drivers who ignored the law.

In fact, it is only a section of the drivers who resort to arm twisting tactics. There are several instances of honest drivers who are passenger friendly not only in terms of the fares charged, but also by rendering help to passengers. Stories of drivers returning the lost valuables to the owner are not rare.

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