Title - Rail commuters hit as metro eats into Central auto stand

CHENNAI: Passengers arriving at the Chennai Central railway station are having a tough time finding auto rickshaws as access to the vehicles into the railway station has been closed with barricades by Chennai Metro Rail.The pre-paid stand has been shifted out after metro work reached the approach road. "It's a tough time for passengers and drivers," said G Arumugam, president of the Chennai Central Railway Station Auto Drivers and Commuters Welfare. "Neither police nor the railways is coming forward to set up an alternative stand."On Wednesday last, passengers had to wait for an hour to get an autorickshaw. "After the long travel all we wanted was to get back home soon. But we were standing on the main road, haggling with auto drivers who pass by. They demanded more than the train fare." said K Padmaja, a passenger who had arrived at the railway station.The pre-paid auto system was the only solace for passengers as auto drivers outside had been fleecing passengers. In the absence of a working meter in autos, commuters are at their wit's end. The only other alternative is the pre-paid taxi service run by a private company. "I can't afford a taxi every time," said K Radhakrishnan, a sales executive who travels between Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore every month. "It was sad to see women and children wait for long hours and auto drivers harassing them by demanding exorbitant rates."

The drivers association leader said the situation may turn worse if authorities did not make other arrangement.