56 autos impounded, 183 cases filed on Day 2 of crackdown; no vehicles released yet

Bengaluru: Continuing its crackdown on errant autorickshaws, transport authorities on Tuesday impounded 56 three-wheelers and booked 183 drivers for overcharging and other violations. 

Two enforcement teams from each of the city's 11 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) checked autos. 

Sixteen of the 56 vehicles were impounded by the Bengaluru Central RTO (Koramangala) alone. Most cases (30) were also filed there, followed by 22 in Chandapura, 21 in East, 20 each in West and KR Puram. 

The Transport Department launched the crackdown on Monday on the directions of Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy. Demanding excess fares is "daylight robbery" and must be dealt with sternly, he had stated in his June 28 letter to the Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety. 

Since the government banned bike taxis on June 16, passengers have complained that auto rides have become both expensive and scarce. Online auto rides are 20-30% costlier than the meter fair, which is Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km and Rs 15 for every subsequent kilometre. 

AM Shobha, Joint Commissioner for Transport (Bengaluru Urban), said none of the impounded autorickshaws had been released yet. 

"Auto drivers have come forward to pay the fines, but we haven't released any vehicles. We're still deciding whether to release them by collecting fines or file charge sheets in courts. If charge sheets are filed, drivers may either pay the fine or file objections and fight the case. Most drivers usually do not fight cases," she told DH.