Auto drivers in Viman Nagar say they won't charge by meter, demand extra for commute beyond city limits
Auto drivers in Viman Nagar say they won't charge by meter, demand extra for commute beyond city limits
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In the area, autorickshaw drivers have come up with their own set of rules and they also strongly abide by it. At most rickshaw stands, auto drivers take passengers on the basis of local and city ride.
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If a passenger is travelling within a distance of a kilometre-and-half, he will be flatly charged between Rs 20 and Rs 30. Drivers charge according to meters only when a passenger has to travel beyond Viman Nagar.
Most drivers openly say that the rules are made by them and refuse to back down from their demands.
REPORTERS: DEBARATI PALIT AND SONIA RODRIGUES
PLACE: VIMAN NAGAR
TIME: 12.45 PM-1.15 PM
OFFENDERS BOOKED: 1
Rickshaw drivers at stand opposite Cafe Coffee Day were asked to go to IBIS hotel. The driver, who agreed, asked for a fixed amount of Rs 20 for the ride. His auto did not have a meter and he was not wearing a uniform or a batch.
An errant driver makes a call as he is booked for refusing fare.
REPORTERS: DEBARATI PALIT AND SONIA RODRIGUES
PLACE: DATTA MANDIR ROAD, VIMAN NAGARu00a0
TIME: 1.20 PM-1.45 PM
OFFENDERS BOOKED: 3
At the stand near Nyati Millennium the first driver refused to go to IBIS hotel saying he would go onlyu00a0 within city limits. The local drivers charged Rs 20 extra and refused to go by meter. On being asked who had made the rule of charging flat fares, one said, "We have."u00a0
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REPORTERS: DEBARATI PALIT AND SONIA RODRIGUES
PLACE: DATTA MANDIR ROAD, VIMAN NAGARu00a0
TIME: 1.50 PM-2.15 PM
OFFENDERS BOOKED: 2
At stand opposite Sri Krishna restaurant the drivers were rude and added Rs 10 to the flat rates to go to IBIS hotel. They refused to leave the stand till they got Rs 30.u00a0
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REPORTER: ABID HASAN
PLACE: KONARK CAMPUS, VIMAN NAGARu00a0
TIME: 6.30 PM-7.30 PM
OFFENDERS BOOKED: 3
The first driver demanded half-return fare to go to Bawdhan. Another asked for Rs 300 flat fare and a third asked for Rs 30 extra.
REPORTERS: SONIA RODRIGUES AND ABID HASAN
PLACE: SHIVAJI MARKET (CAMP)
TIME: 8 PM-8.30 PM
OFFENDERS BOOKED: 4
Violed Pereira a middle-aged woman who travels by auto daily, said, "This is my everyday problem. Auto drivers do not travel to Kondhwa from Camp and they charge extra."
Riddhi Vaswani said, "I go to Vaswani Chowk regularly at this hour. The drivers either refuse to go or they say they will charge me extra. Even if I am with my old mother, they do not care, even driving very rashly."
REPORTER: VIVEK SABNIS
PLACE: MOLEDINA ROAD (CAMP)
TIME: 9 PM-9.45 PM
OFFENDERS BOOKED: 5
Drivers were trying to find long route fare. Five refused to go to nearby areas like RTO and Juna Bazar at Mangalwar Peth. Kusum Londhe wanted to go to Tadiwala road but she was also refused by three drivers in the same area. One who agreed, asked her for Rs 20 over the meter charge.To register your complaint
Call 020-26208225
This is an exclusive number given by traffic police to MiD DAY readers to register refuse-to-fare complaints.
You can also send us your complaints at punemail@mid-day.com.
To send in your complaints by SMS: Type RTO, followed by space, your complaint and send it to 59994.
For example: RTO autorickshaw number XYZ is charging extra fare from Swargate to Pune Station.
MiD DAY will be running this daily campaign to ensure that YOUR commutingu00a0 problems are eased. Watch this space for our daily campaign.
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