Dial-an-auto for a stress-free ride

AT YOUR SERVICE

Hiring an auto in the Capital is a task. From overcharging to misbehaviour and at times a direct refusal to go, auto drivers always have their way leaving passengers helpless. The helpline started by the Delhi Traffic Police fails to threaten drivers as they challenge commuters to complain against them, aware that the system doesn’t work.

But if you think this ordeal is unending, the new helpline should come as a pleasant surprise for you. Center for Woman Safety and Empowerment has come up with an innovative auto helpline, called Rajdhani Ride. “Delhi has a large number of vehicles due to which the facilities fall short. We intend to bridge the gap between the government monitoring system and the transport department’s services,” informs Aamit Khanna, spokesperson, Rajdhani Ride.

Rajdhani Ride has roped in young auto-drivers of the City and promises a safe and reliable ride whenever one books an auto on their helpline number 011-30516000, with an additional booking charge of Rs 20. “We ensure that our drivers are well-behaved and dressed in proper uniform,” assures Aamit. He also says that drivers sometimes acquire criminal ins­t­i­ncts from their surroundings, even though they never intend to misbehave and are largely aware of the basic mannerisms, which we only have to reinforce. “They are apprehe­nsive of the police but we tell them to do their job honestly and charge appropriate fares to get continuous work,” Aamit adds. The auto drivers are also given a death insura­nce policy worth Rs three lakh and checked to ensure they do not have any criminal records.

The 373 autos registered with Rajdhani Ride are fitted with GPS meters that have panic buttons and also give a printed bill. In the event of a mishap, the GPS instantly sends out five SMSes – four to the passenger’s relatives and one to the nearest police control room.

Begun on July 1 the service is a hit already. “We receive nearly 2000 calls a day but have to turn down many due to the limited number of autos. Women and senior citizens remain a priority though,” explains Aamit. In addition to providing home service, the helpline also sends autos to any point in the Capital, with a maximum waiting time of 30 minutes, depending upon the distance.

“Autos registered with us are free to ferry regular passengers too. Anyone who spots an auto with our unique identification mark can hire it without registering a call,” Aamit elaborates. Autos can also be booked on their website and a pick and drop time and destination can be fixed in advance.

Commuters who have used this service seem rather content. “I really appreciate the initiative and am very happy with the response I got for my call. The auto arrived on time and the driver was well-behaved too. I will surely call the helpline again whenever needed,” says Bharti who resides in Shakarpur and had called an auto to go to Tilak Nagar a few days ago.

Joginder, an auto-driver registered with Rajdhani Ride is more than excited as he is now getting work throughout the day and late night hours. “The best part about this service is that I get passengers willing to go by meter, hence ensuring that I am paid appropriately,” he says happily, adding that he himself promotes this helpline to customers who are still unaware.

Although the response for the new service is encouraging, continuous efforts would be required to remain efficient over time.