The increase in diesel price has provided an alibi for autorickshaws in the city to charge extra money from the travellers despite the rate displayed in the trip meter.
In place of the minimum charge of Rs 12, the passengers complain that they have to pay Rs 15. “For a ride, the trip meter showed only Rs 20, but we were forced to give 30. If we stop and bargain, the auto drivers would start using foul language, especially when the passengers happen to be women. When my friends had such a bitter experience, they complained to the police,” said Niliya Venugopal from Peyad.
The travellers are in such a situation that they do not have any escape from prepaid autorikshaws too. “Though a fixed amount is remitted at the prepaid counter, on reaching the destination, the drivers would ask for more money. This trend was started after the increase in diesel price came into effect. For postpaid rides also, the situation is no different. Before getting into the vehicle itself, some auto drivers would tell a fixed rate, and in such circumstances, we would avoid the ride,” said Pooja Jayan from Ulloor.
The motor workers’ union leaders said that unless an immediate intervention from government’s side to revise the trip rates was taken, the motor workers would be in trouble. “A few days back, we had requested the Fair Wages Committee to revise the charges. Some autorickshaw drivers might have started increasing the rates before the official fare revision comes and this would be the reason why travellers are paying an extra amount. But we have asked the workers in our union not to levy unauthorised charges,” says Pattom Sasidharan, general secretary of Motor Workers Union (AITUC).
“If the rates are to be revised, the minimum charge for autorickshaws has to be made Rs 15 and for taxi cabs, it should be fixed as Rs 100,” he added.
“Apart from the diesel price, the costs of allied items too have risen, including those of spare-parts and tyres. The insurance charge has also risen exorbitantly. The government should immediately revise the fares,” said Kadakampally Surendran, president of the District Motor Transport Workers Union (CITU).
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