Potholes give autorickshaw drivers an excuse to charge extra

Potholes are drilling a hole in the commuters’ pockets as autorickshaw drivers fleece them, citing bad roads. More the number of potholes, higher the fare seems to be the norm. 

Monalisa Saha, 32, an IT professional, dreads every time she has to travel from her house to Chinnappanahalli Main Road, off Marathahalli.

“The main road is just a km away from my house, but as there are no streetlights and the road is in a bad shape, I take an auto. I shell out Rs 50 one way. The auto drivers blame it on potholed roads, vehicle maintenance and other factors,” she said.
One of the residents from BTM Layout said that he had filed a complaint over the phone with traffic police against the autorickshaw drivers. “While the police book cases against autorickshaw drivers, there is no guarantee that the drivers will stop charging more,” he said. 

Hiral Khanna from Nagarabhavi said that while the actual charge from her place till Sunkadakatte (near Shanti Bhai School) is Rs 40 one way, the auto drivers charge Rs 50 and at times, Rs 60.

Similarly, commuters complained of paying extra while travelling from Gottigere to Bannerghatta Main Road; ITPL to Phoenix Market City (Whitefield); Tannery Road to HBR Layout; the NTTF stretch till Peenya 2nd Stage; Indian Express to Russell Market and Central Mall to Garuda Mall.

The auto drivers attributed the extra fare to bad roads, the risk involved and chances of the vehicle getting damaged.

Rahman Baig from Shivajinagar said that he increases the fare by Rs 10 to Rs 20, if he is asked to ply to areas such as Russell Market and its surroundings. He said that the roads in the vicinity are riddled with potholes and give him back pain.

Srinivas Murthy from Mysuru Road said that there are chances of the autos getting damaged while plying on bad roads.

“Moreover, plying on potholed roads consumes lot of time and hence, we charge more,” he said.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M A Saleem said that they receive five to six complaints every day from public about fleecing auto drivers, though they are not sure of the reason why they charge more.

“We issue notice to the owner of the auto and they are told to pay a fine of Rs 100. It is a daily routine,” he said.