<p>Travelling in the City has always been a Herculean task. Many Bangaloreans depend on autorickshaws to get from one place to another, but this mode of transportation comes with its own share of difficulties. <br /><br /></p>.<p>To a huge extent, this is because many autorickshaw drivers do not have electronic meters installed in their vehicles. <br /><br />Since the older ones are easier to tamper with, there is often a discrepancy between the actual fare and what the meter shows. <br /><br />Metrolife speaks to some Bangaloreans to know their experiences and problems in this regard.<br /><br />Sairam, an IT professional, says, “Everyday, I take an auto from Marathahalli to Cantonment. With the digital meter, it costs somewhere around Rs 200 — whereas with the old meters, the charge is between Rs 250 and 280.” <br /><br />“I always argue with the auto drivers before handing over the money. Of late, since I know the distance, I fix the rate as Rs 200 with the driver in advance. But because of this, getting an auto takes a while,” he adds.<br /><br />Others, though, feel that the old meters don’t always show a very different fare.<br /> Rinku, an IT professional, says, “I am a resident of Banashankari and I often travel by autos. However, I do not find much difference between both the meters. The odd thing is overcharging commuters according to the area.”<br /><br />“In Banashankari, for instance, the drivers agree to charge by the meter. In areas like Indiranagar, though, they fix a rate themselves and don’t go according to the meter at all. This practice should be stopped,” she adds.<br /><br />Foreigners and outsiders have a tough time dealing with the City’s auto drivers. <br />Adam, an expat from Scotland, says, “Most autorickshaw drivers fix a rate and do not go by the meter. As an outsider, I am sure that I am charged 40 per cent more than the locals.” <br /><br />“Another complaint I have with the auto drivers is the way they almost attack us when we leave a shopping mall, asking us to take their autos. There should be a system to deal with this nuisance,” he adds. <br /><br />Devaraj, an auto driver, says, “There is a difference between the digital and old auto meters. The old auto meters show a fare which is about 30 per cent more. If the fare is Rs 100 in the digital metre, it will be Rs 130 in the old auto meter.” <br /><br />“Having digital meters is more convenient because it is transparent — a customer can see the distance that is covered, so they do not question it,” he adds.</p>
<p>Travelling in the City has always been a Herculean task. Many Bangaloreans depend on autorickshaws to get from one place to another, but this mode of transportation comes with its own share of difficulties. <br /><br /></p>.<p>To a huge extent, this is because many autorickshaw drivers do not have electronic meters installed in their vehicles. <br /><br />Since the older ones are easier to tamper with, there is often a discrepancy between the actual fare and what the meter shows. <br /><br />Metrolife speaks to some Bangaloreans to know their experiences and problems in this regard.<br /><br />Sairam, an IT professional, says, “Everyday, I take an auto from Marathahalli to Cantonment. With the digital meter, it costs somewhere around Rs 200 — whereas with the old meters, the charge is between Rs 250 and 280.” <br /><br />“I always argue with the auto drivers before handing over the money. Of late, since I know the distance, I fix the rate as Rs 200 with the driver in advance. But because of this, getting an auto takes a while,” he adds.<br /><br />Others, though, feel that the old meters don’t always show a very different fare.<br /> Rinku, an IT professional, says, “I am a resident of Banashankari and I often travel by autos. However, I do not find much difference between both the meters. The odd thing is overcharging commuters according to the area.”<br /><br />“In Banashankari, for instance, the drivers agree to charge by the meter. In areas like Indiranagar, though, they fix a rate themselves and don’t go according to the meter at all. This practice should be stopped,” she adds.<br /><br />Foreigners and outsiders have a tough time dealing with the City’s auto drivers. <br />Adam, an expat from Scotland, says, “Most autorickshaw drivers fix a rate and do not go by the meter. As an outsider, I am sure that I am charged 40 per cent more than the locals.” <br /><br />“Another complaint I have with the auto drivers is the way they almost attack us when we leave a shopping mall, asking us to take their autos. There should be a system to deal with this nuisance,” he adds. <br /><br />Devaraj, an auto driver, says, “There is a difference between the digital and old auto meters. The old auto meters show a fare which is about 30 per cent more. If the fare is Rs 100 in the digital metre, it will be Rs 130 in the old auto meter.” <br /><br />“Having digital meters is more convenient because it is transparent — a customer can see the distance that is covered, so they do not question it,” he adds.</p>
