Friday, 23 December 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The regional transport officer (enforcement) of Dehradun, Shailesh Tiwari on Thursday posed as a passenger to take cognisance of the complaints of overcharging by auto rickshaw operators at the ground level. He said that the transport office has been receiving complaints from commuters about being overcharged by auto rickshaw drivers on several routes across the city. The State Transport Authority (STA) increased the fare of auto rickshaws in July this year according to which, an auto rickshaw driver can charge at the rate of Rs 60 for the first two kilometres and then charge at the rate of Rs 18 per kilometre for the remaining distance. “The drivers can charge up to 50 per cent extra between 10 PM to 5 AM but despite that, we have been receiving complaints through passengers of being charged exorbitant amounts by auto rickshaw drivers,” said the RTO.
To take cognisance of the complaints, Tiwari booked a ride in an auto rickshaw from the railway station to ISBT. The driver demanded Rs 150 fare after reaching the destination while as per STA, it must be only Rs 115. A team from the transport office called there by the RTO penalised him for overcharging and not displaying fixed fare charges in his vehicle, said Tiwari. He said that he also booked an auto rickshaw from Kishanpur to Silver City Mall and the driver demanded Rs 150 when it should be only Rs 80. The RTO team also imposed a penalty on the driver. Tiwari said that he also booked an auto rickshaw from Rispana to Silver City Mall but the driver only demanded the amount as fixed by STA which was appreciated by the RTO team.
Tiwari said that STA had increased fares of all local public vehicles in July but the department is still getting complaints of overcharging considering which, RTO will conduct a major campaign against such vehicles soon.
