Today there was an interesting article in
the Times of India front page pointing out just how long auto rickshaws have
been running without meter – since 1998! And how a 6km ride in a Chennai auto
lightens your pocket by Rs. 100 whereas the same trip will cost around 56 in
Bangalore, 72 in Mumbai and 46 in Delhi. All the stats there are point to the
grave nature of this situation especially as the article rightly points out
that with “the gaps in public transport increasing, the auto rickshaws do
ensure the last mile connectivity to offices, homes, schools and
colleges.” The article also mentions the
argument of the other stakeholder – the autowallahs’ argument, which mainly
centers on the absence of a sound tariff structure and provisions for the
transport authority to regularly revise according to the change in the prices
of fuel.
I have been to Bangalore many times, and I
love the auto rickshaw rides there. So borrowing the basic concept from there,
the meters in the Chennai autos should mainly display the distance of commute.
A price chart can be issued by the transport authority. A slot in the back of
the auto driver’s seat can display the chart along with the driver’s identity,
license and vehicle registration details. Any sane person will agree that it is
easier to change the charts every year rather than calibrating the meters
themselves. But keeping in mind the possibility of the customized charts
popping up with way higher prices than the actual, the Transport Authority can
issue these price charts with a hologram which will make it a tad difficult to
replicate.
The reader will now be wondering why in
spite of the tone of this article, I have chosen a title that is the opposite.
All said and done, the Chennai city’s description is incomplete without the
bright yellow auto rickshaws. I wanted to highlight the steps that can be taken
to make Chennaites’ proud of their autowallahs as part and parcel of Chennai.
PS: The source of the stats and statistics
used in the first paragraph is from the Times of India news article (4th
September 2012)
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