The state government has decided to handle rogue auto-rickshaw drivers in a stronger and more effective way so that passengers do not face any harassment.
It will be made mandatory for all auto-rickshaw drivers to abide by the 11 point guideline laid down by the state Transport department.
During a workshop with union leaders from 125 different auto routes in the city, state Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee on Sunday delivered a strong message by saying that auto drivers must abide by the rules of the state transport department. They have to follow the 11 point guideline set by the Transport department in the wake of repeated accidents in various parts of the city.
“Collecting subscriptions is not the only job of the auto unions. They must also follow the traffic rules and ensure that the auto drivers do not violate the norms laid down by the state Transport department,” Mukherjee told the auto union leaders on Sunday.
The workshop was organised at Gariahat to sensitise auto drivers from different routes on how to behave with the passengers and on various other issues. It was also decided that a complaint box will be installed at every auto-rickshaw stand so that passengers can drop a complaint if they were dissatisfied with the service or they have any other issues.
It has been often observed that passengers face harassment from auto drivers on various issues. In some cases, passengers have been badly beaten up by some auto drivers.
Mukherjee also maintained that some auto drivers, who misbehave with the passengers and commit crimes, give a bad name to their entire community. However, in reality, there are many good natured auto-drivers who go an extra mile to help the passengers, the minister said. During the workshop, the auto drivers were also instructed not to take passengers who are in an inebriated state.
It may be mentioned that the auto-rickshaw route management committee, set up by the state transport department, has taken various measures including the decision to install a complaint box at every auto-rickshaw stand in the city to check incidents of harassment of commuters. An auto driver would be pulled up if a passenger drops any complaint against him in the box that has to be installed in each auto-rickshaw stand.
Auto drivers have been asked not to take more than four passengers in a single fare and not to pick people in an inebriated condition. They have also been told behave properly with the passengers.
The Transport department formed the route management committee to resolve the existing problems related to plying of auto-rickshaws, before a new auto-rickshaw policy will be introduced.
Recently, the committee held a meeting with representatives of the vehicles owners and the representatives of all the 125 routes on which auto-rickshaws ply in the city. Auto-rickshaw drivers were directed to ply their vehicles on the permitted routes and also asked to submit their details, including their license and phone numbers, to the state transport department.