In the wake of a sharp increase in the complaints of auto drivers refusing to ferry commuters, Delhi Police conducted a detailed check to trace such places in the national Capital. They have identified 39 areas where the three-seater autorickshaw (TSR) drivers indulge in rude behaviour with commuters.
The maximum number of such ‘refusal hotspots’ have been identified in South and South-East Delhi. Traffic Police has stepped up its drive against the errant auto drivers after over 1,000 calls were received on police control room (PCR) in the last one month about auto drivers’ refusal to take passengers to their desired destination.
According to a Delhi Traffic Police official, the places in South and South-East Delhi are Saket Metro station, AIIMS, Sarojini Nagar Market, Malviya Nagar Metro station, Nehru Place, Chhatarpur Metro station, Badarpur Border, Mahipalpur red light, Govindpuri Metro station, Kalkaji Mandir, South Extension market, INA market, Max Hospital Saket, lajpat Nagar Central Market, Hauz Khas Metro station, Hauz Khas market, Green Park Metro station and Select Citywalk Saket.
Central Delhi stood at third in the tally of autorickshaw drivers refusing to take the passengers. The places identified are ISBT Kashmere Gate, New Delhi railway station, Rajiv Chowk, Old Delhi railway station, Red Fort Chowk, Sarai Rohilla railway station, Vishwa Vidyalaya Metro station and Sisganj Gurdwara.
According to a senior police officer, the list has been circulated to the concerned traffic inspectors and local police as well to keep a check on these places. “They have been asked to deploy an extra police on these hotspots so that the commuters could not face problem,” said the officer, adding, “Officials have been advised to impound the vehicle or issue challan, if any auto driver found in such activity.”
As per the traffic rules, Delhi Traffic Police prosecutes auto drivers who refuse to ferry passengers by issuing challans of Rs2,000. There are 80,000 autos plying in the Capital. The officer said that in the past few months the number of refusals by auto drivers has increased. “The PCR (100) receives 30-35 calls per day from commuters across the city,” the officer added.
Hotspots identified in West Delhi comprise Uttam Nagar East Metro station, Manglapuri, Tilak Nagar Metro station, Rajouri Garden Metro station and Janakpuri West Metro station. While in East Delhi, the places are Shahdara Metro station, ISBT Anand Vihar and Nirman Vihar Metro station. The other places where most of the auto drivers refuse commuters are Rohini West Metro station, Shastri Nagar Metro station, Model Town Metro station and Palam Airport.
last year, in September, the auto unions had complained about ‘illegal’ challans on auto drivers by Traffic Police. With the intervention of Aam Aadmi Party leaders, the unions had decided to put a ‘returning home’ plate on their vehicle after completing work hours.