Auto rickshaw has been a major problem in the city and the culprits are the Drivers. I have designed a solution roughly and am working on it hoping to atleast minimize the issue if not solve it. Refusal to hire and over charging are two of the main issues to be tackled.
A solution should always be one which makes both the parties (passengers and drivers in this case) happy and not just one sided. Hence it was most important to get auto driver's side of the story too. Speaking to about 40 odd drivers casually, I figured out maybe if we get them extra income every month they would atleast stop overcharging then we can tackle the refusal issue.
Now before I try to do something to get them extra income, I wanted to do a research again. I kept 1000/- a month as bench mark for the research and decided to check with the drivers what they would say
That is where I decided to leave my vehicle back at work place and took an autorickshaw home, on the way asked the driver
Me: If I can get you an additional income of Rs 1000/- every month would u agree not to over charge passengers??
Auto Driver (in an angry tone): Saar, I'm not greedy, keep ur money I believe in hard work, if I cheat or do anything else I know that money will not stay with me.
Me: do not worry boss, it will not be cheating or illegal, as of now just a thought for sake of the argument.
Auto Driver: no saar thank you I'm happy with my hard earned money
End of trip Meter shows 73/- I gave him 100/- asked him 25/- back and our man gives me 10/- back.
Me: Meter is showing 73/- give me 25/- back
And he bloody starts of with the autorickshaw anthem, "have to go empty till there now saar..... its already late saar...... you know no one will take auto this time saar......" and of course the whining just did not stop there... all this at 9:30pm!!!
This put me into a dilemma now, maybe its just a one off case (some person who has lost his mind) when offered a steady income of 1000/- every month he rejects it, but again sings the same song to overcharge. Is it not the money for which they over charge? Is it some sadistic pleasure they get by cribbing?
This project of mine is going to make me cry, I can sense it coming.... but I'm not giving up, whatever it is I will find a solution to this.
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Really they are sick.. You have mentioned only 2 problems that we face problems from Auto drivers. What about running over bike drivers foot, Crossing the street without signal, abusing woman, Abusing passengers to board their auto, Taking you in a long route to increase the units in the meter
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