Commuters hope shared-auto services will become better after GTP refresher course
GURUGRAM: Even as the shared autos form an important form of public transportation in the city, often its drivers are charged with violating traffic rules.
Rash driving, underage driving over-speeding, illegal parking and filling more passengers than the capacity are some of the common complaints against the shared auto drivers. There are over 15,000 shared autos plying across major areas of Gurugram. Most of the shared autos ply in older parts of the city.
Under the Gurugram road safety week that culminated on Sunday, the Gurugram Traffic Police undertook a refresher course for drivers employed in unorganised sectors which also included drivers of shared autos.
Trained by the Regional Security Officers (RSO) of Gurugram Traffic Police, the drivers were trained in major traffic protocols that need to be followed for the safety of commuters as well as drivers.
The drivers were also informed that it was important for them that they register their vehicles with the police.
In the middle of 2016, various shared auto drivers had gone on strike after the Gurugram Traffic Police started taking punitive action against the vehicles that were not registered with Gurugram Traffic Police.
“Shared autos are an important form of public transportation in the city. Most of the citizens depend on shared autos for commuting in different parts of the city. The police therefore, felt it was important that the drivers must be given proper training,” said an official from Gurugram Traffic Police.
“On timely basis, we have taken punitive action against drivers who have been found violating the traffic rules,” added the official.
With most of the shared autos using low quality fuel, the shared autos are also considered to be one of the major sources of increasing pollution levels in the city. Even though the government has introduced E-rickshaws, their number is still quite less.