Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Auto rickshaws have always been at the beck and call of passengers. They have to stop when the passenger signals to them to pick them up and also stop at the destinations desired by the passengers. The auto drivers also get admonished by traffic police who are under the instructions of the people, higher ups and influential persons, for creating hurdles in the traffic.

Ideally auto rickshaw parks or stands are needed at junctions for the convenience of the people. People use them for various things like going home, reaching offices and schools, attending functions, shopping etc. The city is woefully short of auto stands in a proper way. About 20 bus stands are being developed here but there is no proposal to set up or develop auto rickshaw stands. At a few places, the auto drivers on their own have tastefully maintained the auto stands. A number of auto stands created several years back have vanished.

Before the road in front of Ramakrishna College at Bunts Hostel was concreted, about 50 auto rickshaws used to wait there. Now about ten auto rickshaws can be seen haphazardly parked in the neighbouring places. Owners of some shops and establishments call the police to get these auto rickshaws removed from in front of their shops. An auto driver explained their predicament of having to drive away their three-wheelers after the policemen hurl abuses at them.

In the year 2010-11, in a joint survey conducted by the police, revenue, RTO office, auto drivers and owners’ representatives, 510 spots were identified for auto stands. But the police department had said that there is provision for only 210 auto stands. The city had to wait for the new auto stand scheme to get the city corporation clearance in 2019-20. But the scheme is yet to be undertaken. At a meeting held in the office of the deputy commissioner last week, the representatives of auto drivers and owners had tried to attract the officer's attention to their problems arising out of absence of auto stands. Even the smart city project it is said, has not made provisions for creating auto rickshaw stands.

Arun Kumar, honorary advisor of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike auto rickshaw unit here, said that the deputy commissioner has been apprised about the problem and that he has promised to take action in 15 days.