Autos say no to passengers

Pashan is another area where auto drivers refuse to travel when asked to and if they agree they overcharge,said Baba Shinde,president,Pune City Autorickshaw Federation. “We receive maximum complaints from Pashan. Office bearers of rickshaw associations constantly appeal to their members to cooperate with passengers,” Shinde said.

“Rickshaw drivers refuse to travel to Aundh,Baner,Pashan-Sus Link Road,HEMRL and other nearby places because they are either too near or too far for them,” said Malini V,a school teacher. The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has fixed Rs 11 for first km and Rs 8 from the second kilometer. “The RTA in most cities fix higher rate for first kilometer to discourage auto drivers from refusing to travel short distances,” Shinde said.

Malini added. “They do not budge even if I tell them I would complain to RTO.” The situation is bad during non-office hours in the afternoon and night. “Beginning 8 pm,divers demand night fare or quote any amount and refuse to follow the meter. Sometimes they quote Rs 10 to 20 more than the meter to go to University Chowk or Bavdhan or even to prime areas such as Deccan,Pune Station or Swargate,” said Devendra Bhagat,a retired banker. Residents also complained of meter tampering. “Earlier,when I didn’t know the formula to calculate fare,I used to give anything from Rs 35 to Rs 50 when the fare must be Rs 37,” said Kimaya Phadke,a technician.