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    Auto Rickshaws in Delhi

    Posted In India, Thoughtworks - By NitiN Kumar Jain On Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 With 28 Comments
      



    A developing nation, eying to become a developed nation by 2020.
    A developing capital, eying for the commonwealth games in 2010.

    And condition of the heavily used mode of transport and behavior of their drivers is the worst thing to have in a city like ours. Yes I am talking about Auto Rickshaws in Delhi, the capital of India.

    There are different modes of public transport available in Delhi:

    Buses
    You can even think of traveling by DTC buses but buses operated by private contractors are not only dangerous for the people on the road but also for the passengers as you never know when it changes your life.

    Metro trains
    You should travel in it as it is the safest mode in the city but due to its unavailability everywhere, it is mostly used by people living close to its accessibility.

    Taxis
    People have now started using it but it attracts only a section of population due to its high fares.

    Individual cars
    Only higher class can afford to bear the cost of the vehicle and its fuel, so mostly used by them only.

    Auto Rikshaws
    These are the most commonly used mode by the lower-middle, middle and upper-middle class which forms a major segment of the total population in Delhi. Low fares and their easy accessibility anywhere make them the most loved transport mode in the city.

    Now what should I tell you about these auto rickshaws? If you have ever been in the city, you yourself must be aware of their varying fares, rude behavior of drivers and unwillingness to go at any cost.

    It seems like they are the GODs on Delhi roads. Not controlled by anyone, they do whatever they want to do; they stand wherever they want to stand. They can deny you from the services at any point of time. They can charge you anything. Electronic meters in the autos never work and even if they work they are always fast.

    So what an individual like me or you can do about it?

    Nothing actually  !!!! which is obviously not the case !!!! Everything definitely

    • By law, no auto rickshaw driver can deny you from going anywhere, if it is unoccupied.
    • By law, no auto rickshaw can run on the road without its fare meter running.
    • By law, no auto rickshaw can run on the road with its meter tampered.
    • By law, no driver can charge you more than what is being displayed in the meter (Except night and extra baggage charges ofcourse)
    • If there is a problem with an auto driver then you can always dial the transport helpline and register your complaints (It may have a slow impact but it does work for sure)

    If there is already a law controlling them then why do we face problems dealing with them? The problem is actually in the “Aam Aadmi”

    • How many times do we use the helpline services to register our complaints against the faulty drivers?
    • How many times do we fight with them for our right for the service?
    • How many times do we urge them to use the electronic meter?
    • How many times do we ask them to be polite with us?

    We actually don’t have time to do all that and still we blame the system. There may have a fault in the system too but unless we point them out to the system how would they come to know about it.

    So next time you wish to travel by auto rickshaws in Delhi, just ensure that

    • The driver does not deny you from going anywhere.
    • The driver is polite.
    • The fare meter is running.
    • If you know the distance between the source and destination, match it with the fare in the meter.

    If any of the above is not the case then just dial in the transport helpline number straight away and register your complaint. You can anytime call the PCR (Police Control Room) to resolve all kinds of dispute. Police can even confiscate their rickshaws. So don’t bother even if they think that they are the GOD, just register a complaint, call the PCR if required and get their vehicle impounded.

    You should always start the process by giving them the warning that you can do all those that they think can never be done.

    Government is also trying its level best to educate all of us against all these things in its campaign “Jaago Grahak Jaago” (Wake up consumers)

    They are bound to give you the best services and you should not be deprived of it, after all we are the boss of democracy.

    -NKJ

    thoughtworks india Auto Rickshaws in Delhi

    NitiN Kumar Jain

    Nitin works in an IT MNC professionally but blogs and owns NKJ Live. He is also the co-owner of a professional start-up ARGHAM BYTES

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    • Sudipa

      What is the Transport Helpline No.

    • Sudipa

      What is the Transport Helpline No.

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in/ Nitin Kumar Jain

      It is 011-23010101 (or 42400400). It should be written on every auto rickshaw and if it not being mentioned then it is against the law. YOu can also send SMS to 56767.

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in Nitin Kumar Jain

      It is 011-23010101 (or 42400400). It should be written on every auto rickshaw and if it not being mentioned then it is against the law. YOu can also send SMS to 56767.

    • Piyush Mehra

      Kkk …i am back with a negative comment again…One say ur best critic is ur best friend..

      I think the article written abut the public transport is good(see one have to start with some positive lines) but it is basically only one part of the story.The basic public transport as you described like Blue line busses which is correct to say that they are killer buses.But why on earth like other newspapers you are not describing the new Ac buses started by DTC nd also green buses which are eco friendly and are more spacious to travel.And not to forget about the Metro Trains which u said are only helpful to the places where it is.But when the Metro was announced in Delhi they brought a plan which clearly shows that till 2010 it will reach all parts of Delhi nd nw they have extended it to NCRs.There is some planning and some Infrastructure to be maintained and the most important thing is that common people should have some patience for a new technology to come in their world.

      And Autos, i totally agree about the behaviour of the Autos Drivers as they are the reall harsh drivers.

      I also want to thank Sudipa for inquiring about the Transport Helpline No. which you forgot(may be you were busy in copy paste stuff).But overall a better and sincere affort to write about the common problems of the Public transport.

      Regards,
      PM

    • Piyush Mehra

      Kkk …i am back with a negative comment again…One say ur best critic is ur best friend..

      I think the article written abut the public transport is good(see one have to start with some positive lines) but it is basically only one part of the story.The basic public transport as you described like Blue line busses which is correct to say that they are killer buses.But why on earth like other newspapers you are not describing the new Ac buses started by DTC nd also green buses which are eco friendly and are more spacious to travel.And not to forget about the Metro Trains which u said are only helpful to the places where it is.But when the Metro was announced in Delhi they brought a plan which clearly shows that till 2010 it will reach all parts of Delhi nd nw they have extended it to NCRs.There is some planning and some Infrastructure to be maintained and the most important thing is that common people should have some patience for a new technology to come in their world.

      And Autos, i totally agree about the behaviour of the Autos Drivers as they are the reall harsh drivers.

      I also want to thank Sudipa for inquiring about the Transport Helpline No. which you forgot(may be you were busy in copy paste stuff).But overall a better and sincere affort to write about the common problems of the Public transport.

      Regards,
      PM

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in/ Nitin Kumar Jain

      Thanku so much PM for the comments. I totally agree that the critics are your best friends.

      But I did not see and criticism in your comment, you have just extended to what I had tried to discuss.

      And it is good to discuss than to regret :)

      This blog discusses about the Auto Rickshaws, may be some other time we’ll discuss about buses and metro trains in details.

      keep writing and suggesting.

      -NKJ

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in Nitin Kumar Jain

      Thanku so much PM for the comments. I totally agree that the critics are your best friends.

      But I did not see and criticism in your comment, you have just extended to what I had tried to discuss.

      And it is good to discuss than to regret :)

      This blog discusses about the Auto Rickshaws, may be some other time we’ll discuss about buses and metro trains in details.

      keep writing and suggesting.

      -NKJ

    • http://dubbagol.com/ Dubbagol Team

      Hey, great to see you are spreading awareness about this …its an issue which affects and irritates us all ( specially during the rains ) and the auto guys should be taught the law !!

      Great Going NKJ.

      DGT

    • http://dubbagol.com Dubbagol Team

      Hey, great to see you are spreading awareness about this …its an issue which affects and irritates us all ( specially during the rains ) and the auto guys should be taught the law !!

      Great Going NKJ.

      DGT

    • Lucky

      Hey Nitin,

      Thanks for sharing such an informative article.In fact I have myself been a victim of the monopoly of autorickshaw drivers. They chared unreasonable amout even for a short distance. I guess this kind of awareness will put common man at much more ease.

      Lucky

    • Lucky

      Hey Nitin,

      Thanks for sharing such an informative article.In fact I have myself been a victim of the monopoly of autorickshaw drivers. They chared unreasonable amout even for a short distance. I guess this kind of awareness will put common man at much more ease.

      Lucky

    • Piyush Mehra

      thats a smart answer NKJ but i disagree with your opiniun of Regret.and I totally agree that the Blog disccuses about Autorickshaw but it also has something for the busses and Metros.I have just added my knowladge about the Topics.
      Knowladge is for sharing,no point to keep to oneself.
      Thank you for your positive feedback
      PM

    • Piyush Mehra

      thats a smart answer NKJ but i disagree with your opiniun of Regret.and I totally agree that the Blog disccuses about Autorickshaw but it also has something for the busses and Metros.I have just added my knowladge about the Topics.
      Knowladge is for sharing,no point to keep to oneself.
      Thank you for your positive feedback
      PM

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in/ Nitin Kumar Jain

      Absolutely sir….

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in Nitin Kumar Jain

      Absolutely sir….

    • preeti jain

      hey,nice to see u awaring people about dis……..
      infact me tooo never obeys dese laws xplained above…and never thought so deeply…but i think it really helps everybody in future in any respect….!!!! moreover it is our duty to fight for our rights….
      keep going!!!!!!gud luck…

    • preeti jain

      hey,nice to see u awaring people about dis……..
      infact me tooo never obeys dese laws xplained above…and never thought so deeply…but i think it really helps everybody in future in any respect….!!!! moreover it is our duty to fight for our rights….
      keep going!!!!!!gud luck…

    • Ranjana

      Complaining is fine, but you say we should ensure the driver has the meter on, is polite etc. he has ten other ppl wanting to use his services. why shd he bother with my strictures. he’ll just drive away. there are times ive been extremely ill in delhi and ive had to literally beg auto drivers to take me to the doctor, that too at inflated rates. they’re not concerned if you die on the road. they’ll just drive away. and ive not seen this coarse tendency in any other indian city.

    • Ranjana

      Complaining is fine, but you say we should ensure the driver has the meter on, is polite etc. he has ten other ppl wanting to use his services. why shd he bother with my strictures. he’ll just drive away. there are times ive been extremely ill in delhi and ive had to literally beg auto drivers to take me to the doctor, that too at inflated rates. they’re not concerned if you die on the road. they’ll just drive away. and ive not seen this coarse tendency in any other indian city.

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in/ Nitin Kumar Jain

      Ranjana, Thanks for responding …. yes I agree that is a problem… but who will bring in the change??

      Govt can only make laws to regulate them and policemen can implement them… I know many of them are corrupt so they will focus on earning bribe from them … then who will bring in the change … It is the common man (Don’t go be the word man, it means the common citizen)

      Actually we are used to these things and hence we dont get bothered … but people coming from outside when see this is a shame for us …

      I will tell u my personal faced example as to how to tackle these rickshawalas…..

      Recently, I asked a rickshawala to go to AIIMS from domestic airport, Delhi. The distance is merely 13 KM and he asked me Rs. 150 and said its meter is not working …. I started shouting at him and boarded the rickshaw and asked him to take me to police station and started dialing the 100 number to book the complaint … After getting few meters he stopped and asked me to get down … I was continuosly shouting at him, I was with my uncle, he got down and asked other rickshawalas who were seeing me fighting. They all instantly agreed to go by meter.

      I had already done the complaint to 100 for that rickshaw. I don’t know what wud happen to that rickshaw now, but I was satisfied to do my bit.

      You would be surprised to know the charges in the meter, merely Rs 65 for which they were charging 150.

      I know it is very difficult to handle all again n again n again.

      But lets do our part, then crib about the system.

      Only we stupid common man can bring in the change. Believe me on that.

      -Nitin

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in Nitin Kumar Jain

      Ranjana, Thanks for responding …. yes I agree that is a problem… but who will bring in the change??

      Govt can only make laws to regulate them and policemen can implement them… I know many of them are corrupt so they will focus on earning bribe from them … then who will bring in the change … It is the common man (Don’t go be the word man, it means the common citizen)

      Actually we are used to these things and hence we dont get bothered … but people coming from outside when see this is a shame for us …

      I will tell u my personal faced example as to how to tackle these rickshawalas…..

      Recently, I asked a rickshawala to go to AIIMS from domestic airport, Delhi. The distance is merely 13 KM and he asked me Rs. 150 and said its meter is not working …. I started shouting at him and boarded the rickshaw and asked him to take me to police station and started dialing the 100 number to book the complaint … After getting few meters he stopped and asked me to get down … I was continuosly shouting at him, I was with my uncle, he got down and asked other rickshawalas who were seeing me fighting. They all instantly agreed to go by meter.

      I had already done the complaint to 100 for that rickshaw. I don’t know what wud happen to that rickshaw now, but I was satisfied to do my bit.

      You would be surprised to know the charges in the meter, merely Rs 65 for which they were charging 150.

      I know it is very difficult to handle all again n again n again.

      But lets do our part, then crib about the system.

      Only we stupid common man can bring in the change. Believe me on that.

      -Nitin

    • saksham

      i will follow it and let u kno nitin.
      thanx fr the useful info.gud going. :)

    • saksham

      i will follow it and let u kno nitin.
      thanx fr the useful info.gud going. :)

    • http://apkaboard.com apkaboard

      Thanks for spreading awareness about Auto Rickshaws in Delhi.

    • http://nitinkumarjain.in Nitin Kumar Jain

      Thank u :)

    • fonia

      I would guess that the Auto is the third or fourth largest form of transportation in our city.

      Buses-Metro-Auto Rickshaw- Cycle Rickshaw.

      In terms of the sheer number of people utilizing their services on a daily basis.

      I do not understand how can we enforce on a Auto-Rickshaw driver to take a passenger to where ever he/she wants to go, that should be a decision the service provider has to be free to take.

      Rest of the rules I understand, makes sense to have them in the motor driving acts, they form a basic set of codes to which any auto-rickshaw owner and driver must adhere to.

      What incentive do the rickshaw owner and driver have for carrying out things in the prescribed fashion, their primary goal is to earn as much as they can with in every shift (like the blue-line buses).

      If all the customers decided not to travel in a auto-rickshaw that does not run with a meter, there will not be any auto rickshaws which run with out meter’s, however what incentive do the people have to follow through, there is always a bargain before boarding the auto rickshaw, and only after that verbal contract do we board the auto rickshaw, many people might not be that pissed about the situation, its the same situation with a cycle rickshaw.

      If the auto walas start charging prices far exceeding the reach of people they wont board an auto’s unless its absolutely necessary to board one and in turn this will hurt the whole auto rickshaw industry.

      We might even take this a step ahead and declare tight controls on all the sabzi wala’s, making it illegal to sell sabzis at rates higher than a state wise average.

      Even if we make all these rules and regulations and people in large stick with them, many auto walas will still try to take advantage when ever they can (if the customer has no other options), and many might not (taking a sick person to the hospital for free).

      • http://nitinkumarjain.in Nitin Kumar Jain

        I do agree with you on some point but you somehow you seem to have missed the gist of the view … If we look at the taxi/auto services in maharashtra (i am not talking about outside India) where they are supposed to serve the common man and are doing it well … serving well here means they are fulfilling the purpose they are into the industry .. take people from one place to another … if we go out on road in mumbai or for that matter in Pune and look for a ride, we just need to waive our hands and taxi/auto will stop and meter would be down … but in Delhi it is not the case .. we generally have to spend 15-30 minutes in searching for an auto that can go there then 5-10 more minutes in negotiating … moreover they are not polite in talking at all….. they are defeating their purpose … tomorrow if blue line or dtc starts charging variable and more, then what …

        Sabzi wala’s pricing is absolutely different, it goes up and down on daily basis and depends on the market … which is not the case in auto rickshaws .. moreover when we go on buy vegetables, we have lots of time to negotiate and roam around but when looking for a ride, we are in hurry ..

        I don’t prefer to travel by autos in Delhi .. but i am fine in other cities …

        (my view)