RailEnquiry

Arriving at Hatia station and then being stranded because there are no auto-rickshaws to ferry one to the city will soon be history.The Ranchi district administration has decided to set up a pre-paid auto-rickshaw service at the station for benefit of passengers arriving in the state capital.The district administration on Sunday issued a public notice to select an agency that would take care of the day-to-day operations of the prepaid auto-rickshaw service from Hatia to different parts of Ranchi. If all goes according to plan, the service will become functional from August 15, with 50 auto-rickshaws to start with.Ranchi deputy commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, who issued the tender, said the administration wanted to outsource operations.“Passengers from Hatia station would now be able to hire a prepaid auto-rickshaw by paying a reasonable fare. All that they have to do is to go to the prepaid -rickshaw counter and give the money, doing away with the need to haggle with auto-rickshaw drivers,” said Choubey.The deputy commissioner added that the service provider will ensure 24x7 auto-rickshaw service from Hatia.The tender issued on Sunday states said the bids of interested groups would be opened at the collectorate on August 7 and interested parties will have to submit their tenders by August 6.A counter would be soon set up at Hatia station which the selected agency would have to equip with a computer, printer and other necessary articles.

Nearly 6,000 passengers use Hatia station daily.

Meanwhile, the counter of the prepaid auto-rickshaw service at Ranchi railway station has now been shifted near the overbridge, to allow easier access for passengers walking out with their luggage. Earlier, the counter was located in one corner of the parking lot.

“This has been done in order to stop auto-rickshaw drivers from going near the overbridge and bargain over fares before a passenger could reach the counter,” said a district administration official.