Traffic police to open pre-fixed auto booths

M A Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), who introduced the concept, said: “We have set a target for ourselves to set up one pre-fixed stand every month.”

Speaking to the media after a soft skills training workshop conducted by Indian Institute of Job Training (IIJT) along with the City Traffic Police on Sunday, he said unlike pre-paid, pre-fixed auto booths generate computerised slips and the fare would not be exact, but an estimate calculated on the distance and location travelled to.

For more than two hours, 45 autorickshaw drivers from in and around Malleswaram, Rajajinagar, Iskcon attended the workshop. While the teaching was mostly one way with auto drivers being made aware of the problems faced by passengers, the auto drivers did not let go of the chance to voice their problems to the traffic police authorities.

Shashikala, Traffic Inspector, said all the problems were solved during the interaction. However, drivers later said they do not expect much change.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, G R Naveen Kumar, auto driver from Nandini Layout, said: “I have attended similar workshops earlier. The police had conducted one three months ago, but nothing has changed. Plans drawn are rarely implemented.”

Auto drivers across the City demanded increase in the number of autorickshaw stands, reduction or scrapping of no parking penalties and provision to pay fines in instalments.
Saleem, who gave certificates to all the participants, said the Police department lacked the expertise to provide skill-based training to auto drivers.

The IIJT intends to hold the training across the City and train more than 150 drivers in the coming year. The drivers listed eight instructions they will follow in the coming days. The trainers have decided to do a reality check to ensure the drivers keep their word.