I have been a frequent Mumbai-Pune traveller. Every weekend when I arrive Pune at evening, I face the wrath of Aut-rickshaw drivers, who refuse to ply on meter. From Swargate to Pune station, they ask for 80-100 (average price being 40) rupees and will not accept anything less than that. There are shared autos who charge 15 Rs per person but carry atleast 4 travellers causing inconvenience to all.
Last night I wanted to hire an auto from Shivajinagar to Pune Station, but no one agreed to ply on meter, instead they kept asking for 80-100 bucks (more than double the amount at meter). I had only to pay more and feel sorry at the sight of travellers like me, being left with no choice but to accept what these greedy auto-drivers demand.
I feel very disgusted and helpless when in a city like Pune, where there are not enough public transport mode (local bus) and the auto rickshaw drivers take advantage of this. There has not been any stern action or any strict rules for errant drivers and there are not enough choices for the general public. The condition of PMPML buses are outdated and more importantly the frequency of the local buses are pathetically dismal. Seems even the government is refusing to change for better and have joined hands with the private owners and get their piece of meat. I hope some day, there will be enough voices to raise this problem to the Government, and I hope even more, that the governing body can hear those plights and take steps to address the common problem of the common man.
Bhola Prasad
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