Report errant drivers, auto unions urge commuters

At a meeting with the Regional Transport Authority, the Transport Department and the Bangalore Police, the unions assured full cooperation from their side. “But it is also people’s responsibility to provide the government and us with information on errant auto drivers,” said CITU-affiliated Autorickshaw Drivers Union President Srinivasa Murthy.

Murthy said the union’s members have assured not to tamper with the calibration of meter. “We have been given two months’ time to recalibrate the meters to reflect the new fares. While electronic meters can be recalibrated in 10 minutes, the manual meters take three to four days,” he said.

These unions claim to have advised their members to carry original fare charts.
“If any auto driver does not have the original fare chart, we will ask people not to pay. That way, we will make drivers responsible for any kind of illegal activity,” said Murthy. On the other hand, Bangalore Auto Drivers Union president Somashekar argued, “It is up to the government and those in power to apprehend the culprits who tamper with meters or charge excessively.”

The auto unions will meet representatives of all the 52 authorised calibration units in the City tomorrow to impress upon them that they too will be held responsible if any auto meter is tampered with.
DH News Service.