Pre-paid autos from railway station, KSRTC bus stand from Oct 2

Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of the Regional Transport Authority meet held to discuss the hike in auto fare at the DC's office on Wednesday, the Deputy Commissioner said that the district administration and the KCCI is ready with the facilities including the software required for starting the pre-paid system. The pre-paid system which was introduced twice earlier in 2005 and 2008 was halted due to the improper management.

“The system will be introduced in the Central Railway Station and the KSRTC Bus Stand on October 2 and it would be started in Kankanady Junction after 15 days. The long pending demand of the public will be fulfilled with the introduction of the system,” he said.

Demand for meter hike

Earlier in the meeting, the auto rickshaw drivers and the owners demanded for the hike in auto rickshaw fare. Speaking on behalf of the auto drivers, Federation of Karnataka Auto rickshaw Drivers Union (FKADU) General Secretary L T Suvarna demanded for the revision of the current auto fair. He said that the minimum price of auto rickshaw which is Rs 15 at present should be hiked to Rs 18. “There has been hike in petrol, tyre prices, garage charges and insurance amount in the last one year. Therefore, auto fare hike is must for the survival of the auto rickshaw owners,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, Vishnumoorthy from the Auto rickshaw Owners Co-ordinating Committee insisted that minimum price should be somewhere between Rs 18 to Rs 21.

“The auto drivers outside Mangalore city, who do not have meters in their autos, charge minimum Rs 20. They are making bucks illegally. On the other hand, the auto drivers in Mangalore are finding it difficult to run their autos with soaring prices of goods and services,” he said.

One of the auto drivers also asked the Deputy Commissioner not to take the auto drivers for a ride if they carry one or two extra passengers.

The service buses are always overcrowded and carry passengers exceeding the limit. When nothing is done on that, why target only the auto drivers, asked an auto driver.

The Deputy Commissioner said that he would take the decision after considering the plight of the general public and the auto fares in other districts.