Bangalore, Aug 9 (DC): Autorickshaw drivers have a reason to worry now. The transport department has decided to keep a tab on those drivers who commit frequent offences and seize their permits. This follows complaints from the public about tampered meters and harassment by the drivers for more than the normal fare.
commissioner for transport and road safety, Bhaskar Rao said: “Recently, we have penalized and seized the permits of over 300 autos involved in frequent offences. The officials were keeping a track of the auto drivers involved in traffic violations, fleecing passengers and tampering with meters. We will continue the drive to check the menace. Auto drivers often take the public and the authorities for a ride and we will not let this happen in future”.
Transport department officials said that if the auto drivers violate the norms three times, their permits would be seized.
Traffic violations would include driving without uniforms, refusal to take passengers to their destinations, overcharging or misbehaving with passengers, driving without licenses or permits or under the influence of alcohol and rash driving.
Bengaluru traffic police is compiling data on auto and taxi drivers who are habitual traffic violators.
The traffic police is regularly handing over the details of these drivers to the transport department with the recommendation that their permits be cancelled.
“Heavy penalties and warnings do not seem to be having any effect on the auto drivers with passengers and the city traffic police still at the receiving end. We have realised that nothing less than the cancellation or seizure of permits, will help rein in these drivers. We are also providing a call center number where complaints against the auto drivers would be accepted 24/7.
A common phone number would be displayed in all autos where passengers can call and share their grievances.” added Rao.
Mysore: Harassed by autorickshaw drivers? Just text an SMS
Mysore, Aug 9 (DHNS): The next time you are fleeced by an autorickshaw driver, don’t just oblige. You can play the role of a whistle-blower by alerting police authorities about the money-swindling art practiced by some autorickshaw drivers, through an SMS.
The message should include the name of the sender, address, registration, sticker number of the vehicle, place of boarding and destination reached. The message will be deemed as a
complaint and stern action will be initiated against the erring autorickshaw driver.
Autorickshaw drivers are infamous for refusing to ferry passengers to particular places, demanding fares as per their wishes and manipulating metres. To address these woes, the police authorities have appealed to the public to make use of the opportunity. Apart from SMS, the complaints can also be lodged through post cards. The police have already been receiving 15 to 20 messages per month from the past several months, thanks to the initiative of DG&IG Ajai Kumar Singh who made it mandatory to display a board in front of all police stations across the State with the landline and cellphone numbers of the respective police officers.
Following some complaints, autorickshaw drivers have been summoned and warned to correct their behaviour with passengers.
Nominal fines have been imposed on some auto drivers, a police officer said. The officer added that in some cases complainants prefer anonymity. But the police insist on an address only to let them know the status of their complaints.
DCP (Crime and Traffic) P Rajendra Prasad told Deccan Herald that apart from sending messages, the victims can also post their grievances at www.mysorecitypolice.org, dcpcrimetrf@yahoo.in, compolmys@yahoo.com
Message to..
ACP (traffic)- 9480802214
Inspector (N R traffic)- 9480802250
Inspector (K R traffic)- 9480802249
Police control room-
100 (toll free),
2418349/ 40