Traffic police start drive against auto drivers fleecing commuters at Vashi

Auto drivers fleecing commuters will face stern action for overcharging commuters and refusing to ply by meter.

Flooded by complaints, the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Vashi has finally started taking action against such drivers.

RTO officials said they will be going to each and every auto stand at all main junctions of the nodes.

They will be talking to autorickshaw drivers, asking them to follow rules.

“We started the drive on Wednesday from Vashi and spoke to 25 to 30 auto drivers in various parts of Vashi. We will following this in all the other nodes as well including Sanpada, Juinagar, Nerul, Turbhe, Belapur and Airoli,” said Sanjay Dole, deputy regional transport officer, Vashi RTO.

“Initially, we will counsel and warn the drivers. After a week, if we still find them flouting the norms, we will confiscate the autos and fine them Rs2,000 for the first time and cancel the permit for repeated offenders,” he added.

Dole said teams of officials will make random checks at auto stands. The rounds will be more at nodes from where frequent and maximum complaints have come in.

“We are getting maximum complaints from Vashi, Juinagar and Seawoods, stating that auto drivers don’t use meters and demand exorbitant amounts. Commuters from Vashi and Kopar Khairane said autorickshaws charge Rs20 more than what the meter shows,” said an official.

Commuters said that the RTO drive is a much-needed initiative because they face regular problems while travelling in autorickshaws.

“Most of the time, we are at the mercy of the autorickshaw drivers and have to go by what they ask for or else wait to get a reasonable ride. The RTO must conduct drives daily to solve the problem,” said Meenakshi Seetharaman, 31, resident of Vashi.