By KR Iyar/Chennai
One can call it a menace, the menace, which has been haunting the hapless Chennaites for the last fifty years. Thanks to the subsequent governement’s apathy to resolve this ‘silent’ issue, which has now become as evergreen as ‘Cauvery conflict’.
It was in late 1957 that the first auto rickshaw was rolled on to Indian roads and subsequently finds its way into various cities, including Chennai. But instead of thanking Rev E Jonathan Schobie, who invented this three-wheeler to transport his sick wife in Japan, the 45,000 odd autowallas in Chennai are habituated in praising either ‘Ayya’ or ‘Amma’ for livelihood, leaving even the gods fuming!
The notoriety of this automobile in Chennai is well known for its inflated meters, loads of ‘foul’ languages from the ‘goons’ on wheel who would coolly ask for extra bucks more than the agreed charges after reaching the destination. Autos are no longer a poor man’s vehicle in this booming southern city.
In the absence of regular checking and effective processing of complaints by police regarding misbehavior of auto drivers and overcharging, etc, these drivers are having field day overcharging hapless commuters.
Since most of the drivers are un-educated, rough and drunkards, people dare to lodge complaint against them fearing their safety. It’s also reliably learnt that few autos are even owned by cops or political bigwigs, thus giving a thrust to the atrocities of these three-wheeled monsters.
But who cares? Thanks to the enormous patients of the people of Chennai. They are known for their ‘keeping-quiet’ policy for any unlawful acts around them. They don’t bother if the roads are not repaired for years, for insufficient power supply, muddy drinking water, dark streets, etc.
So one way the people are also responsible for the auto menace. Had it been in North or even in Kerala, people would have reacted strongly for such unlawful activities and exploitation.
Recently in Kozhikode a group of women took to streets with brooms in their hands to protest in front of an electricity office for irregular power supply. The fault was attended immediately. Here in Chennai, despite having so many people’s forums, very few would assemble for such cause. But there is always a huge crowd for political meets or to watch an actor.
The reasons for the relentless atrocities of the auto rickshaws are many. One of the major reasons is that the monopoly of the local drivers and their strong Association. There is no influx of people from nearby states to take up this job as local language is the ‘must’ for anyone to survive in this profession. So, virtually there is no competition for local drivers.
In northern states like Delhi people from UP, Bihar, Haryana usually take up these kind of jobs along with locals thereby triggering a healthy competition which ultimately benefit people who can bargain to the minimum fare.
As the meters mounted on the rickshaws are just for physical presence, ninety per cent of the drivers would give the inflated price if you ask the favourite and inevitable question - How much do you charge to take me to this place?
There is no habit of using meters by the auto drivers in Chennai. Since most of the meters are tampered ones, even if one insists upon putting the meter on, he or she would end up paying twice the normal fare.
With lack of effective policing and awareness among people, the auto menace continues unabated in this southern metropolis. Recently, when the nuclear-powered submarine USS Nimitz anchored off Chennai coast, its crewmembers were taken for a ‘ride’ by an autowalla.
Instead of the agreed charge of Rs 50 to drop them at a hotel, the driver after reaching the hotel asked for 50 US dollars and created ruckus. To avoid a scene out there, the crew paid the money but promptly complained to the city police chief. Later the auto driver was held and the extra money was recovered from him.
What message these foreigners would have taken to the people of their land? Chennai would always remind them as a ‘land of goons’ instead ‘land of temples’.
It’s high time that the government, media, like-minded people and NGOs come out from deep slumber to find a viable solution to this evergreen problem of Chennai.
Is anyone listening?
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