Title - Women to run prepaid auto booth at Nagpur railway station

NAGPUR: An all-woman team would now run the prepaid autorickshaw booth at Nagpur railway station. The prepaid booth was earlier being run by a city-based NGO and then by an association of auto-drivers but was mired in conflicts. Now a women's organization has been given the responsibility.

Following complaints of frequent non-functioning of booth and harassment to passengers, Civil Lines corporator Pragati Patil took initiative and got Nagrik Vikas Samiti to take over the management of the prepaid booth. Commissioner of police Ankush Dhanvijay and city RTO Sarjerao Shelke inaugurated the booth on Tuesday. Dhanvijay urged Patil to start similar booths across the city and assured every help from the city police in her endeavour. Shelke too promised to extend all help to the corporator.

According to Patil, it is the first prepaid booth to be operated by women in the country. It will be run in three shifts by NVS members Renuka Devraj, Neetu Barshettiwar and Nagmani Barshettiwar. She clarified that traffic police too will remain present to ensure there was no chaos near the booth. A fare chart, issued by the RTO, will also be made available at the booth. The NVS will collect Rs 2 as service charge from the passengers hiring autorickshaws from the booth, said Patil. She, however, pointed out that no service charge will be collected from those who hire autos for below 2 kms journey.

Welcoming the move, autorickshaw drivers at railway station told TOI that since the facility was introduced in early 2000 by the then deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Bhushan Kumar Upadhyaya, the booth had helped a lot of passengers. It was being managed by Nag Vidarbha Auto Chalak Bahuddeshiya Seva Bhavi Sansthan. At least, 300 autos ply from the station daily and passengers used to benefit by being charged correct fare.

Updhyaya had started booths in Ajni railway station and at Ganeshpeth bus stand as well. However, lack of interest among his successors ensured that these closed down after his transfer from city. The booth at main railway station was closed following irregularities.

'Open more booths elsewhere'

While harried commuters haggle with autorickshaw drivers on city's roads, business is smooth and professional at the only prepaid auto booth in the city at Nagpur railway station. Passengers who used the prepaid facility asked, "why can't every busy locality in the city have a prepaid autorickshaw booth?"

The prepaid tariff has a minimum fare of Rs 26. Passengers suggest that prepaid auto booths be set up at busy places like Itwari railway station, bus stops, Sitabuldi, Dharampeth, Ajni, Sadar, Gandhibagh, Mahal, Ganeshpeth, Cotton Market etc. They could then be extended to MSRTC bus stations like Ganeshpeth and bus depots in Mor Bhavan.

Commuters in the city say this could be a solution to the problem of auto drivers fleecing passengers. "It would help to have prepaid auto counters at malls and cinema halls too," said Rakhi Mane, a student. "I often pay more for an auto ride than for the movie ticket."

Auto drivers too are not averse to the idea. Autorickshaw driver Sahebrao Sirsat said that by not taking a proactive stand, the government was harming the interests of commuters and auto drivers. "We have filed representations for prepaid counters to both city RTO and deputy commissioner of police (traffic) to be opened at various places. The concerned agencies, however, have not responded to the suggestion," the drivers said.

RTA approved prepaid autorickshaw fare charges

KM stageRouteFare payable

0 to 2Sitabuldi, K P Ground, Cotton Market etcRs 26

2 to 4 ST Stand, Baidyanath Chowk, Rahate Colony etcRs 52

4 to 6 Juni Shukrawari, Siraspeth, Gandhi Putla, etcRs 76

6 to 8Gurdeo Nagar, Vyankatesh Nagar, Hasanbagh etcRs 100

8 to 10Shastri Nagar, Babulban, Dighori, Wardhaman NgrRs 124

10 to 12Pardi, Bhandewadi, Bharat Nagar, Jaffar NagarRs 148

12 to 14Bhawani Mata Nagar, Kalamna village etcRs 172

14 to 16Gulmohar Nagar, Kalamna, Kamptee, Besa Rs 196

16 to 18MIDC (Hingna)Rs 220

18 to 20Tulani Chowk, Chandni ChowkRs 224

20 to 22Defence, Aathwa Mile Rs 268