AUTORICKSHAWS: 15 squads to embark on massive effort to rein in errant drivers The Regional Transport Office (RTO) will undertake the biggest-ever crackdown on autorickshaw drivers in the city in October first week. As many as 15 RTO squads will check whether tariff stickers the RTO has come up with the stickers for the first time- and identity cards are displayed behind drivers seats for passengers benefit. Another important objective of the drive is to identify illegal autorickshaw operators and take action. Of the 55,000 autorickshaws operating in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad,the RTO suspects no less than 8,000 illegal vehicles. The deadline for submitting applications for identity cards is over. Even though we have been taking action against autorickshaw drivers regularly,the October drive will be the biggest so far. We have already collected necessary data and have information on illegal rickshaws operating in the city, RTO Chandrakant Kharatmal said. Around 15 RTO squads will be roped in for the action. During the drive,the RTO and traffic police will check whether drivers have documents like the permits,licences,insurance papers,etc. It is for the first time the RTO is coming up with tariff stickers,instead of tariff cards,so that it can be easily stuck on the back of drivers seats. It is mandatory for drivers to put up the stickers for passengers to see the fare. Another mandatory rule is to display identity cards for security reasons. The deadline for submitting applications for I-cards is over. So far,around 10,000 drivers have collected I-cards. During the drive,we will take strict action on those not possessing I-cards, Kharatmal added. In August,Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had said the state traffic department should ensure that auto- and taxi-drivers display I-cards on vehicles. The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in Pune had already taken a decision to that effect. The RTO is now issuing 6X6 inch cards,on which information about the rickshaw permit holder,driver or drivers (in case more than one driver operate in shifts),drivers photo,contact numbers are displayed. DCP (Traffic) Manoj Patil confirmed that a major drive is in the pipeline. Even though random drives are jointly undertaken by the RTO and traffic police,the upcoming drive would be of a huge scale and we will deploy more than the usual force, Patil said. RTA member Baba Shinde said they have been receiving many complaints from commuters on helplines and had planned action based on the feedback. How and where to register complaintsTo register complaints pertaining to autorickshaws,be it overcharging,refusal to take commuters or misconduct by drivers,one can call on 26051414 or 9420218338. One can also email the complaint to rtopune@data1.in or sms on 59994 in the format: RTO_Pune_vehicle number_grievance. Also available is the recently launched toll-free number 18002330012 for any complaints regarding transport issues in the city.
