This is one experience everyone would have had many times in their lives, provided they belong to normal middle class by South Indian standards, and have no chauffer driven car to take them around. For those who depend on auto for every commuting, this sordid tale is a repetition many times over, like a mega serial. What do we do when it happens? Grin and bear.
Or, decide to find another auto or walk the distance (if there’s no bus) depending upon whether it is the affluent first part of the month, or the poor second part.
You can board an auto from a junction, or the one passing by the road. All stories, irrespective of their beginnings, mostly have unpleasant endings.
Non-functional meters
Initially, the auto which seems like a saviour, turns out to be a menacing monster on observation, when the passenger, much to his shock discovers the quintessential ‘meter’ is not functioning. Question the man in the garb of a driver, and you are sure to get an answer that could be close to ‘the meter wire juuuuust got cut, few minutes ago. I will fix it tomorrow.’
Tomorrow when you board another auto, he also repeats the same answer to you. While some of us have had arguments and disembarked from the auto, some have chosen to grin (well, not exactly) and bear it. Finally, the passenger is bound to pay the fancy amount quoted by the driver just so as to avoid the episode of confrontation.
Can nothing be done about it? “Every single incident does not come to our notice. We would request the passengers to inform us when such incidents occur, along with auto registration number and other details,” says ACP (Traffic) Shankaregowda.
Any complaints? Call/sms...
ACP (Traffic) 9480802214
Inspector (Devaraja) 9480802248
Inspector (K R) 9480802249
Inspector (N R) 9480802250
PSI (N R) 9738440011
PSI (V V Puram) 9480802262
PSI (Devaraja) 9448757031
PSI (Laskhar) 9906229847
PSI (K R) 9448632968
PSI (Kuvempunagar) 9448322869
