If the Delhi Traffic Police has its ways, autos in Delhi may soon be colour-coded on the basis of what part of town they belong to. They would then be barred from refusing any passenger wanting to go to that side of the city, particularly after sunset when most drivers return home.
The police have suggested the Transport Department of Delhi Government to divide the city into five zones and issue a colour code for every zone. For instance, an auto-rickshaw registered in south zone will be issued red colour and, though it can operate across the city without restrictions, but while returning home, it cannot refuse to ferry a passenger wanting to go in south zone areas. If still they refuse, the traffic police will prosecute them without giving them much scope else.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla said the suggestion, once implemented, will solve the major problem of refusal in night as the drivers cannot refuse to take passengers to the area or zone they belong to. “Throughout the day these autos can ply anywhere in the city but after evening they can’t refuse to ferry passengers to their zones,” he confirmed.
For allotting specific zones to the autorickshaws, the traffic police suggested that the Transport Department considered the address mentioned in the registration certificate, drivers’ residence or ask the drivers about their preferred zones. Traffic police have suggested five colours -- red, blue, green, yellow and pink for identification of each proposed zones. “Once the public becomes aware about the colour schemes of auto-rickshaws, they will be able to avoid hassles. They can even lodge complaints and traffic police will penalise them accordingly,” he said.
Similarly, to curb misbehaviour and harassment by the auto drivers, traffic police also suggested that all detail of drivers should be displayed inside the auto-rickshaw. “A small know-your-driver board will be made mandatory inside the auto-rickshaws. This board will contain photo and all the necessary detail of driver that will enable the passengers to lodge complaints against them in case of harassment,” Shukla added.