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`One-and-a-half kodi, saar'
Passenger: Will you come to Koramangla? Autorickshaw driver: Petrol cost has gone up. One-and-half kodi, saar.
Autorickshaw driver: Petrol cost has gone up. One- and-half kodi saar.
Transport Department: Fit electronic meter. Use auto gas kit. Follow lane discipline.
Autorickshaw driver: (Strike! Strike!) But OK, saar. Passenger: Will you come to RT Nagar?
Passenger: Will you come to RT Nagar?
Autorickshaw driver: I won't get return savaari. One-and-half kodi, saar.
Familiar exchanges. Auto drivers are often made out to be demons on three-wheeled vahanas, but the lady with 15 shopping bags cannot wait at the bus stop either. Are autodrivers always the villains, or are we stereotyping them too hastily?
ROHINI MOHAN puts the debate into gear.
* * *
Most of the auto guys refuse to come where we want to go. Sometimes, they don't even give an oral response, but just frown and turn their facesaway. Thank God for the pick up and drop arrange ment with BMTC buses.
Vasantha, AIR employee
* * *
"It is the tourists who get cheated. But this happens in every city. The auto drivers take roundabout routes and come up with unheard of rules. They also purposely talk in Kannada to confuse the outsiders. But we should be alert, then they can't cheat us. Localites don't have to worry too much."
Manjunath, Mineral analyst
* * *
"Because of rush-hour in the morning, I have to take an auto to work. Funnily, daily, there will be a different meter charge. I speak to the auto guy in the beginning itself, saying I will not pay more than the usual rate. Negotiating initially itself is better than putting fast meters."
Aruna, Insurance agent
* * *
"We should always specify the route the auto must take. Otherwise, he'll definitely take you for a long, costly ride. This used to happen a lot to ladies, because the driver thinks they won't know directions anyway. But as women have become educated and employed, this problem is reduced. The police also help out a lot now."
Mansoor Ahmed, Engineer
* * *
"There's an extra charge for everything. Waiting charge, luggage charge, extra person charge, charge for going into by-lanes… it never stops. What to do? I just scowl, but pay up anyway."
Ajay, Job aspirant
* * *
"I always insist on them putting the meter on. After 9:00, they do ask for one-and-a-half charge. Since it's already late, I'll be in a hurry to get home safely. So I end up giving in to their demands. It becomes so expensive if it's on a regular basis. Also, I can't afford a two-wheeler. So I have to suffer in buses only."
Huma Sultana, Final year arts student
* * *
"When more than three of us have to sit in the auto, one chap sits in the front, with the driver. Then, the charge per head is decided with a lot of quarrelling and he'll ask us to be ready with the fine if cops catch us. Best part is, they know the areas where cops won't be there and take that route. They are damn clever that way…"
Mohammed Zabi, Engineering student
* * *
"There's a lot of haggling involved. But passengers can't put up much of a fight because all the auto-men will gang up together. The minimum fare of Rs.10 is supposed to be for 2 kms. or something. But the meter starts jumping after one curve itself. Now there are electronic meters. We know these are accurate, at least until they find a way out to tamper that also."
Abhishek, Engineering student
* * *
"People are always fighting about rules. I take an extra passenger, can't I ask for some five rupees more? I never ask for one-and-a-half before 10:00 pm. And luggage is not like a human being. It weighs so much more to carry goods and it damages our vehicle also. They should be at least willing to negotiate. But 90 percent of the passengers do not pay us with a full heart. "
Jayaram, Auto rickshaw driver
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