I could not step back from the civic responsibility when I heard what happened to my friend who lives in Bangalore. He was suffering from fever and acute back pain because of which he was not able to walk the distance. He usually travel by bike but could not, that day, as the situation was very worse. He decided to go to the Hospital nearby, MGA hospital in Marathahalli, which is just 1KM away from his place, just near to Bharatis restaurant. He stood on the road for an autorikshaw. He called four autos and the first three demanded 30Rs, 40Rs and 30Rs each for this 1KM. Finally he got a person who took him to the hospital with meter charge. he consulted the doctor and it was time to return. He stood near 'The New Shanthi Sagar' restaurant looking for an auto back to home. He called for 4 autos and all demanded 30Rs for the 1KM distance. Disappointed by the kind of arguments that the drivers put, he walked down the signal in acute back pain. I am sure, if you have ever been in Bangalore and have traveled in autos, you would have come across similar experiences.
Now the problem is: many public transporters - specially autorickhshas - dont go by government regulation. they charge the public extra bucks- sometimes 5Rs extra, sometimes 10 and sometimes the double, citing silly excuses and the public who is in need have to submit to what the transporter ask for. (I dont forget those few people who go as per rules and regulations and charge only as per the meter). Not only this, they stay in the road most of the time, even if not been utilised. They pollute when they go around looking for people who can pay them high. That is in effect we are having a poor public transport system in the shape of autorickshaws, which use up one of the scarce resources - the road space - and pollute the city. People usually take private vehicles - cars or bikes - if they could manage it, since there is no surety of the public transport - with respect to the cost of travel and the kind of treatment they receive. This adds to the number of vehicles on the roads, traffic woes and pollution and the rest. Many steps taken by the authorities have not been so fruitfull till date.
What is Ideal? : At the times of car pooling and maximum utilisation of public transport, we have to make sure that the autorickshaws are utilised to the fullest possible extend. For that the first thing to be done is with the fares. Public should be sure that when they travel a certain distance, anywhere in Bangalore, they are charged the same as per the government regulations - not a penny more, not a penny less. Fare should not be more when they hire an auto from 'The Forum' mall or 'Garuda' mall. Fare should not be more when someone hire and auto towards 'Logica' or towards any where for that matter.
What could be done? : Why dont we introduce 'Fair fare autos'(FFA)? The idea is to bring together the group of autos that charge the real fare from the public. They wont over-charge the public. They wont reject any trips due to any reasons. They wont misbehave to the customers.They will be identified as FFA. So the public can hire a FFA without any fear about the fare they will be charged.
How could it be implemented? : This could be implemented only with the help of all the stakeholders - The public, the auto drivers, the traffic police and all others involved.
--> First of all there needs to be a registration in which the auto driver will furnish the details of the auto and his license details
--> Then they will be given identification - for the auto and the driver - a visual identification so that the public can identify a FFA
--> There will be a notice in every FFA, showing where to register complaints and whom to contact.
--> There will be a central location where all data of FFA will be kept and managed
--> Necessary actions will be taken -- like stripping off FFA title -- according to the complaints received.
I know its not simple. But we have to start somewhere. Pass on the message if you like it. Add your comments and suggestions. Thank you.
Now the problem is: many public transporters - specially autorickhshas - dont go by government regulation. they charge the public extra bucks- sometimes 5Rs extra, sometimes 10 and sometimes the double, citing silly excuses and the public who is in need have to submit to what the transporter ask for. (I dont forget those few people who go as per rules and regulations and charge only as per the meter). Not only this, they stay in the road most of the time, even if not been utilised. They pollute when they go around looking for people who can pay them high. That is in effect we are having a poor public transport system in the shape of autorickshaws, which use up one of the scarce resources - the road space - and pollute the city. People usually take private vehicles - cars or bikes - if they could manage it, since there is no surety of the public transport - with respect to the cost of travel and the kind of treatment they receive. This adds to the number of vehicles on the roads, traffic woes and pollution and the rest. Many steps taken by the authorities have not been so fruitfull till date.
What is Ideal? : At the times of car pooling and maximum utilisation of public transport, we have to make sure that the autorickshaws are utilised to the fullest possible extend. For that the first thing to be done is with the fares. Public should be sure that when they travel a certain distance, anywhere in Bangalore, they are charged the same as per the government regulations - not a penny more, not a penny less. Fare should not be more when they hire an auto from 'The Forum' mall or 'Garuda' mall. Fare should not be more when someone hire and auto towards 'Logica' or towards any where for that matter.
What could be done? : Why dont we introduce 'Fair fare autos'(FFA)? The idea is to bring together the group of autos that charge the real fare from the public. They wont over-charge the public. They wont reject any trips due to any reasons. They wont misbehave to the customers.They will be identified as FFA. So the public can hire a FFA without any fear about the fare they will be charged.
How could it be implemented? : This could be implemented only with the help of all the stakeholders - The public, the auto drivers, the traffic police and all others involved.
--> First of all there needs to be a registration in which the auto driver will furnish the details of the auto and his license details
--> Then they will be given identification - for the auto and the driver - a visual identification so that the public can identify a FFA
--> There will be a notice in every FFA, showing where to register complaints and whom to contact.
--> There will be a central location where all data of FFA will be kept and managed
--> Necessary actions will be taken -- like stripping off FFA title -- according to the complaints received.
I know its not simple. But we have to start somewhere. Pass on the message if you like it. Add your comments and suggestions. Thank you.
1 comment:
Rony, your views on the traffic woes are highly appreciable. Your suggestions are NOT impossible, though a bit difficult to bring into immediate effect. I think you must surely bring this matter to the attention of the Government of Karnataka.
You can do this in two ways:-
1) Lodge a complaint online, alerting the authorities involved.
I am giving you a few of the URL of the concerned websites.
http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/topic/Roads%20and%20Transport
Citizenmatters.in tracks the development of Bangalore's commuting infrastructure, be it autorickshaws, Bangalore International Airport, BMTC, Bangalore Metro or the ever growing Bangalore Traffic.
http://rto.kar.nic.in/..go to the Grievances tab -> Autorickshaw Complaints
2) Sent this same article to be published through the paper or magazine media, which would grab the attention of general public and the officials concerned.
GOOD LUCK AND ALL THE BEST IN YOUR BOLD STEP.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
with best regards,
Ajitha
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