Autowallahs a law unto themselves?

Commute blues

Of late, Aam Aadmi Party may have led to talk of ‘cleaner politics’ and politicians acting ‘cleaner than thou,’ but their unconditional support and irrational promises to autorickshaw drivers is worrying Delhiites as well.

Recently,  the AAP announ­ced a hike in auto fare, introduction of waiting charges and ‘no action against auto drivers for refusing passengers,’ when they come to power. But the aam aadmi is asking: ‘What about our conve­nie­nce? Is the Aam Aadmi Party only for autorickshaw drivers or are they concerned about the general public as well?’

Shruti Palkar, a college student, says, “It’s a daily problem. You stop an autowallah at any time of the day and they’ll either say, ‘I am going in the other direction,’ ‘my auto needs a refills’ or ‘I am going home.’ These are all excuses for not taking passengers.”
“AAP has no plans for streamlining this essential public service. A shift system can be introduced for autodrivers so that a minimum number are plying at night as well. Instead, the party says that autowallahs will not be fined and people can walk home after sunset. This is a classic example of bankruptcy of ideas.”

Moumita Chatterjee, a homemaker, asks what about autowallahs still not going by the meter. “Inspite of the recent auto fare hike, hardly any autowallah is willing to go by the meter. You ask them the reason and they say CNG prices have gone up again. But there has to be a solution to this problem. AAP can’t just be pandering to the needs of autowallahs because they helped them garner votes
for the elections.

Autowallahs in the city carried posters of AAP for months before the elections and also aided the party in campaigning, leading to its meteoric rise in Delhi’s political landscape. AAP seems to be returning the favour to
autowallahs through these recently announced plans.

Gaurav Chandhok, a young working professional complains autowallahs in the city hardly know the routes and often misbehave. “Recently, when the Metro stopped plying for a couple of hours, the city came to a still. That is because most autowallahs started charging exorbitant amounts and also misbehaving. I had to wait for an hour on the roads before I could get a lift to office that day.”

Rajinder Soni, General Secretary, Delhi Auto Sangh, however, does not agree. “It’s not true that autowallahs misbehave. Also, we don’t overcharge. It’s a truth that CNG prices fluctuate everyday andwe have to make ends meet.”

“As for the demand for a shift system, no autowallah would want to work at night because Delhi’s roads are notoriously unsafe at night. We can’t take that risk.”