[Resolved]  Autorickshaw — Unethical fare charges

Address: Pune, Maharashtra

I am a resident of Kunal Icon Apartments in Pimple Saudagar, Pune. My complaint is against all the autorickshaw drivers in the Pimple Saudagar area. None of them agree to use the Meter attached on their autorickshaws. They just say an unethical fare amount of their own will, which if not accepted by us, then the service is not offered to us at all. They are just so arrogant that they do not even bargain. Following 3 examples will give you an idea of the unethical fares that the auto rickshaw drivers in the area of Pimple Saudagar charge:

1. My wife, in my absence wanted to go to Park Street (This is located hardly at a distance of 2KM from Kunal Icon). She asked an autorickshaw driver from the gate of Kunal Icon. He said "Rs 70, if to be dropped inside Park Street". When my wife objected, he said "Give Rs 50 and I will drop you outside the Park Street and then you walk inside". My wife was carrying a baby and she then had to walk some good 500 metres before she got an autorickshaw driver, who charged Rs 50 and dropped her inside Parke Street. By meter, the same distance should have cost me a maximum of Rs 30.

2. I was on my way back from Mumbai. The bus dropped me at the Jagtap Diary stop in Vishal Nagar (again hardly more than 1 KM from Kunal Icon). The autorickshaw driver charged me Rs 50 for a 5 min drive to Kunal Icon apartments. When asked, he says these are fixed rates. I told him to show the fixed price chart, to which he started quarreling and abusing. By meter, the same distance should have cost me a maximum of Rs 20.

3. I work with Wipro Technologies, located in Hinjewadi, Phase - 2. One day, I had to leave early for home, so I asked an autorickshaw driver for a service till Kunal Icon (10 KM from Hinjewadi, Ph-2). He says "Rs 180, fixed rate". Given, the distance, I think by meter it will cost me a maximum of Rs 100.

I want the RTO to take strict actions against these unethical public service providers. Since autorickshaw drivers are not Private Transport providers, they can not charge any amount on their own, they have to abide by the RTO designed fare rules, failing which they should be banned from providing such a service.