Smile, you're an auto driver

The Bangalore City traffic police plans to launch a special drive to educate autorickshaw drivers on how to relate to the public, particularly passengers, across the city.

The police will train some 40,000 auto drivers and counsel them to behave better with passengers. The traffic police will select drivers for training from autorickshaw stands.

A detailed proposal on the special drive has been chalked out and will be implemented in phases, given the fact that it is an arduous and time-consuming exercise.

The first programme will be held near Byatarayanapura traffic police station off Mysore Road on Tuesday. The police will rope in private companies and organisations in their attempt to teach autorickshaw drivers to earn goodwill, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic North) Panduranga H. Rane told The Hindu here on Monday.

The sessions

The traffic police are in touch with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the Education Department to have the sessions on their premises. They may also book convention halls, choultries and private halls, Mr. Rane said.

City Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari said: “Commercial drivers, including autorickshaw drivers, should follow rules to ensure smooth flow of traffic.” The police, Law Department, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the RTO Department will orient the drivers on their profession.

Action by police

Meanwhile, the City Police have decided to act against autorickshaw drivers, including seizing their vehicles, if they misbehave with passengers and the police.
Around 80,000 autorickshaws ply on the city's roads and the police receive at least 200 complaints every day against the drivers with some 12,000 cases booked this year alone.

The police have asked the RTO to cancel the permits of 500 autos for prima facie violating rules, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic-Central) A. Nagappa told The Hindu.

Fed up passengers

“Passengers are tired of auto meters that [fraudulently inflate the fares] and of drivers who refuse to ply and demand return fare. They harass women, children and elders. They never pick up passengers from pre-paid auto counters. Also, the auto drivers assault passengers if they protest. These are the common complaints,” said Mr. Rane.

The police are legally mandated to seize the vehicles if drivers restrain officials from discharging their duty, he said.