Auto problem: delegation meets RTO
A delegation from Mysore Grahakara Parishat met Regional Transport Officer Siddappa H Kallera in Mysore and filled him in with the problems being faced by general public regarding autorikshaws.
The delegation consisting of Dr T N Manjunath, Maj Gen (Rtd.) S G Vombatkere, Bhamy V Shenoy, V Mahesh, S Y Sadashiva Murthy, Narasimhaiah and S S Sridhar pointed out that the public is continually facing hardship due to defective and tampered autorickshaw meters. The problem is exacerbated by the frequent fare rate changes which are implemented whenever the market prices for petrol change. It makes it difficult for the public to figure out if they are being overcharged. They suggested that the problem could be eliminated by installing autorickshaw meters that read the distance covered in kilometers rather than the actual fare in rupees as is being done now. A conversion card issued by the RTO can be used to convert the distance travelled to the fare amount.
They said, with this system in place, thousands of autorickshaw meters need not be recalibrated every time there is a rate change. Only the new fare conversion cards have to be issued saving enormous amounts of money. Whenever there is fare rate change, the conversion table can also be published in local dailies so that the public is up-to-date on the fare change. The correct distances between the various landmarks in Mysore can be made available in the form of a booklet to the public, charging a fee to cover the cost of the booklet. If these distances are known to the public, there will be very little incentive to tamper with the meters. Defective meters can also be easily identified and corrective measures taken.They noted that by changing fare meters to distance meters in autorickshaws, overcharging of the public due to defective or tampered meters will stop.
Non-Karnataka autos
A very large number of autorickshaws with Kerala registration and some with Maharashtra and Bihar registration are plying the roads of Mysore. They do not get registered in Karnataka even after several years. Most of these autos do not seem to have insurance and in cases of accidents, they are just abandoned. Citizens involved in acccidents with such autos can not get insurance cover. It is better for the RTO not to allow Kerala registered auto rickshaws to operate in Mysore beyond the initial grace period, the Parishat urged.
