Title - Prepaid auto fares at Central Station revised

CHENNAI: Railway police have streamlined the pre-paid auto system at Chennai Central railway station after several passengers complained that auto drivers were demanding more money that the fare printed in the prepaid slip.Fares to around 15 places were revised and police personnel have started to monitor issuing of prepaid slips to passengers at the counter, said deputy inspector general R Dhinakaran in a statement."Registration number of the vehicle will also be mentioned along with fare in the prepaid slip issued to passengers from prepaid auto counter at Central. This system is being introduced to trace auto drivers if passengers have any complaints after a trip," said deputy superintendent of police V Ponramu."To remove this anomaly, we have told the counter staff to print vehicle number also in the prepaid slip. This will cause some delay but it is going to be useful for passengers," said a police official.Revised fares to some of the locations are Rs 147 for Adyar, Rs 172 for Anna Nagar West, Rs 165 for Ashok Nagar, Rs 165 for Besant Nagar, Rs 264 for Golden Beach, Rs 129 for ICF, Rs 65 for Ice House, Rs 156 for Kotturpuram, Rs 237 for Neelangarai, Rs 102 for Loyola college, and Rs 147 for West Mambalam.Auto drivers often had a grouse that prepaid fares for long distance routes were too low. The revision sets this right. "We charge a little more than the fixed amount because of traffic diversions due to metro rail work. The police now help passengers board the vehicle, said G Arumugam, president, Chennai Central Railway Station Auto Drivers and Commuters Welfare Society.