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Idiocy of digital autocracy
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The street brawl triggered by digital meter revolution has been won by the autodrivers. But the war is not yet over, SERISH NANISETTI discovers more
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Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma
Nahi chalega? Street squabbles are the new norm after the introduction of digital meters
“Tarnaka,”
“Rs. 150”
Move on to the next autorickshaw that blocks the road outside City Centre Mall, the same conversation continues between the lady with bloated bags and the fellows sitting comfortably in their three-wheeled vehicles and spitting on the other side. Nev
er mind that there is a traffic constable regulating traffic just across the road, never mind that all the autos have digital meters, never mind that the autos throw a ring around the mall (if all the 1.5 lakh autos in the city are parked end to end the line would stretch to 300 km).
Much to their chagrin Hyderabadis are discovering that all digital revolution are not good. You just have to hit the streets of Hyderabad to find out that the shiny new digital meters with the red flashing numbers are no good. Try flagging down an autorickshaw and most likely he will either refuse to ply or quote a flat rate.
“There are four types of meters. While Perfect and another model are working fine, Super and Sansui are giving problems. All these meters are electronic circuits so the moment they are opened by inexpert hands the meter stops working. That’s the reason why so many meters are not working,” says Anjaneyelu, an autodriver from Uppal who agrees to ply by the meter.
Though the meter manipulators are reluctant to divulge the secret, some meters have been successfully tampered with. Remember the manipulated STD booths where the call rate would sprint faster than you could say hello? Same technology. Meter tampering is not space science, all it requires is modifying the pulse rate that is normally 1350 beeps per km. Lower the pulse rate and the meter starts ticking faster. How do the fare meter mechanics access it? The lead lock that joins the two wires through screws with holes is first removed. Then open the other screws and the back plate becomes accessible. Using a laptop and other improvised digital equipment, the meter’s pulse is accelerated but not always successfully.
“Many of the auto drivers say the meter is not working. Autos plying by the meter was a thing of pride for us. This digital meter thing has changed everything. Now, I don’t want to be sucked into the habit of haggling, bargaining. Before it is too late the RTA should act and seize the autos that don’t ply by the meter,” says M. Vijaya.
Another trick of the automen is to change the timing on the digital meter. So, even if it’s daytime the meter shows the fare that would tick during night. Stuck on some of the cabs is the legend: Dial 1074 for complaints. “We called the number when the autodriver refused to ply between General Bazaar and Chilkalguda. They don’t even issue a complaint number. The person manning the cell informed that the autodrivers are issued a challan by the Traffic Department. What’s the use? Commuters should get a sense of vindication,” says Naadira who always gets into spats with the autodrivers.
One dirty trick that commuters can play successfully is to agree to pay a flat rate ask the autowallah to down the meter for academic interest and on reaching destination pay the amount shown on the meter. Or multiply the kilometre by Rs. 6 and hand over the fare.
Autodrivers too have their turf cut out. One thing that forces the autorickshawallah to cheat is the usurious rates at which they borrow. Once they borrow, they are at the mercy of the loan sharks who have goons roaming the city to collect the money. The situation has come to such a pass that autodrivers pay bribes to these goons without even knowing whether he is in the pay of the loan shark or not.
Then autodrivers ply by territory. That is one of the reason they refuse to ply on certain routes.
One solution can be the self-labelling that cab drivers in Mumbai do with.
Mark out the areas they are willing to ply and voila it is a win-win situation for both commuter as well as the autodriver.
Neo-elitism
A few months back the
state government floated the
idea of arranging loans so
that the automen can upgrade
to cabs. The many taxi
unions shot down the idea.
The state government
backed out. Now, zipping on
the roads are Meru Cabs, Apple
Cabs, dot cabs, City Cabs
and a host of other services.
Wringing their hands in despair
are the automen who
even if they reach the Shamshabad
airport are stopped
eight km short of the passenger
terminal.
Call it neo-elitism even at
the Secunderabad Railway
Station too, passengers coming
by autorickshaws are
forced to alight right on the
road. Once these commuter
terminals are out of bounds
for autorickshaws, the time
will start ticking for the men
who fleece.
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