Speak up Delhi: No respite from unruly auto drivers as police, govt fail to act

Even after the AAP government launched its helpline — 011 42400400 — and the Delhi Police’s tall claims of reining in unruly autorickshaws in the Capital, TSR (three -wheeler scooter rickshaw) drivers continue to fleece and refuse fare to commuters.

The government had launched the helpline for commuters in distress to lodge complaints against errant drivers. Autorickshaw drivers refuse to ply on routes except those set by them. Too often, they even refuse to follow the fare meter and fleece commuters by overcharging.

Two years ago, the Delhi Traffic Police had launched the ‘halt-n-go’ scheme to ‘decongest’ routes along major Metro stations such as Malviya Nagar and Saket. Autorickshaws throng Metro stations making a mess outside resulting in long traffic snarls.

The initiative launched in 2016 by former Special Commissioner of Police (traffic) Dharmendra Kumar has seen little or no implementation after his tenure got over.

The police had identified 14 such ‘choke points’ to streamline the rush of commercial vehicles outside busy Metro stations including Hauz Khas, Malviya Nagar, INA, Moolchand and Kailash Colony, among others.

The plan to decongest these stations was made along the lines of the traffic management system at IGI Airport, where there are separate points for taxis and TSRs. …read more