SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: To facilitate easy and hassle-free transportation for Srinagar residents, the authorities have taken a good initiative to launch e-Auto facility in most parts of Srinagar. According to authorities, it was a long pending demand in areas without access to public transport. Even though it is a welcome step and everyone is praising the move but on the other hand people are anguished that fare for e-auto rickshaws and auto-rickshaws has not been fixed. Failure of authorities to install fare-meters in auto-rickshaws in the summer capital is taking heavy toll on passengers.
In order to curb overcharging by auto-rickshaw drivers in Srinagar city, the Regional Transport Officer Kashmir has urged people to use Google Maps to check their travel distance and pay according to rates set by the Transport Department as several complaints have been received about overcharging.
According to Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, a rate-list is readily available on the Transport Department’s website, as per which for first 2 Km, commuters should pay Rs 39 to auto-rickshaw driver and after that, the driver can charge Rs 17 per Km. “In this era of technology, it is not difficult for people to assert their rights. Commuters can simply use Google Maps to monitor travel distance,” he added. There are over 3,500 auto-rickshaws in city, making it challenging for RTO Kashmir to hold drivers accountable on daily-basis. “Before hiring an auto-rickshaw, commuters should check the travel distance. Google Maps will assist them in this regard, and they should pay as per total distance travelled,” Bukhari said. Any violations by auto-drivers can be reported to the Regional Transport Office as action under rules will be taken, said Bukhari. While there is a proposal to install meters in autos, the use of Google Maps is the best option for commuters in absence of a fare meter, he added.
But on the other side, most of the passengers seem unhappy with the new proposal. They said that most of people are illiterate and have little knowledge about Google Maps, so how they would get enough relief from the exorbitant fares. “For 3 to 4 Km, drivers are charging Rs 100-150, and for 10 Km they are charging more than Rs 200. The rates also vary from one auto-rickshaw to another even on same route. Moreover despite directions from authorities regarding installation of meters, there is no implementation on ground level,” people said. “Rule should be implemented for all and rates should be fixed in a way that we don’t run into losses. You can see that petrol prices are skyrocketing and same should also be taken into consideration,” said an auto-rickshaw driver.