Autopilot on???
Vijay Times today reports that:
Autorickshaw drivers, beware. Becoming choosy about where want to go (or where you don’t) will be pretty costly for you. In fact, you may have to shell out a fine of Rs 2,000. Ditto if you charge excess fare.
This tough decision is the fallout of a Government Order which will come into effect from Aug 13.
Having experienced their insouciance even today in unsuccessfully trying to hail an auto that will take me to whare I want to go, I can’t help but feel that our friends have asked it with such a tough move from the government.
In my opinion, the erring ones – the bad apples, in a manner of speaking – are few but the ones who have given their profession a bad name. This is unfortunate for them since they have one very big advantage going for them – Meter fares!
And to add to their woes of poor image & disrepute has been the news recently about how an auto driver tried to molest a foreign national.
Public support is hardly their side. I know this because on days when they decide to strike by going off road, thats when Bangaloreans let out a big sigh of relief.
Its time for autodriver unions to take stock of the situation and come out with some sort of PR. Else, there will come a time in the future ( what with the additional Volvos and Namma Metro ) when thiers will become a dying trade.
Having said all this, I wonder who will bell the other cat. The one that goes by the name of ‘ Transport Department’ that has allowed 85000 autos on Bangalore roads.
I’m willing to take nine bets that no one will ever try!!
:)
Good for us.. Bad for them. Like you have said, they have asked for it!
Yeah, it is unfortunate that some bad eggs give everybody a bad name. I personally have come across auto drivers with impeccable manners and attitudes. But they are a rare breed now.
It’s a pity that we have to resort to such extreme methods to make the auto drivers do their job!
Wish the government could also fine them for all
the noise pollution some of these autos contribute
to in Bangalore,what with some of them removing the
baffle plates in their silencers so that they
achieve more mileage and speed.
Bangalore auto drivers are the notorious lot. Try to engage one in the peak hours, and come up with their usual raaga: “Kaali barbeku, saar. One-and-half aguthe”.