Bhubaneswar: If you come in an auto from Kalpana Square to Lingaraj temple at Rs 10, there is no guarantee that you can return at the same fare.
Curious to know the reason? Firstly, the government is yet to come up with a guideline describing what should be the auto fare per km, as in case of bus fare. The absence of such fixed rate makes the auto driver a gainer and the passenger a loser. With no fare chart available with an auto, chances are high that an auto driver may ask for more than the actual amount.
Cases are plenty that the bargaining on fare price between an auto driver and a passenger has ended up in verbal duels, often leading to fisticuffs. And if it is night, the passenger is sure to be at the receiving end if he picks up an argument on fare.
Secondly, there are autos coming into the city from outside and doing business. These ‘ousiders’ are not associated with any of the auto associations. They are allegedly coming from areas like Jatani, Khordha, Pipili etc. They enter the capital city early in the morning and return at mid night. As they are not associated with any association, they do not have any fear of action. They charge fare as per their wish.
Narrating the ordeal, Deepak Das, a private employee, said he had to cough up `160 from Kalpana to Old Town last week. When asked why he had not hired a taxi instead, he said that the driver at first agreed to take him to his destination at `80. Later, on reaching the destination, he demanded an exorbitant `160. Surely, Deepak is not the sole victim in getting fleeced by unruly auto drivers. There must have been many more.
Sources say there are 120 auto stands in the capital and they are under 76 local auto associations. And if 100 autos are associated with each auto stand, it works out to be about 12,000 autos that are controlled by the associations. And, at the same time, sources clarify that while around 35,000 autos have been registered, more than 22,000 are plying in the capital.
Secretary, Ganesh Bazar Auto Owners’ Association, Old Bhubaneswar, alleged that generally the autos belong to outside of capital areas and are not connected with any of the associations.
When contacted, president of Rajadhani Auto Mahasangha, Naba Kishore Mohanty, said as some auto drivers are not associated with any of local associations, they are always remaining uncontrolled, prompting them to indulge in some mischievous acts including crime.
“We have urged the government several times to do something to regulate auto fare. In 2005, an initiative had been taken in this regard. But it failed to see the light of the day. There must be a guideline as to what would be the minimum fare and what would be the per kilo meter fare,” he added.
However, recently, under secretary to government (Commerce and Transport Department) has written a letter to the transport commissioner, Cuttack, directing him to constitute a technical committee to revise taxi/auto fare.
Pradeep Pattanayak, OP
