I am sure most of you would be surprised if I mentioned frustration and did not mention auto rickshaw.
I had a harrowing experience this Thursday evening with autos. Since I had left my vehicle at home, I left office at about 5:30pm. On coming outside, I found a few other people trying to get an auto rickshaw. Within 5 minutes of standing there, it started drizzling. With the drizzle came the arrogance of the “autowallahs”. Off the 10 autos that passed, only 1 was empty. Try to stop this guy and he just goes away as if people standing there are fools. Such was the attitude and the arrogance that I did not even feel like getting on an auto at that time. Yet I tried, but to no avail. The situation was such that if someone was on deathbed and begged for help, the autowallah would not even give a second look. The sight disgusted me no end. In the end I came home by office cab at 10:15pm. The helplessness that I felt at that point in time cannot be put in words.
Many of us who choose auto rickshaw to commute have come across one or the other problems. Be it the drivers demanding extra fair or taking long routes or the rude behavior or the meters jumping (there is no limit on this one) or turning on waiting.
Also, the license display system that they have makes me feel dumb. Reasons? Some of them are expired. Some licenses and the drivers don’t match. What is the purpose of this system? Can someone explain?
Some of auto rickshaws that you see on the road are smoke factories in themselves. I don’t know how many of you have noticed that NOT a single “smoke factory” is caught by the so-called traffic police for not complying with the emission standards.
Is there a way you can complain about these drivers online? Taking these guys to the nearest police station does not work most of the time. Why? Because:
– You do not have the time to go to the police station and argue for an hour there (maybe you have to be in office by 10 or you have an urgent meeting).
– The driver uses such foul language that all that you want to say is “get lost”.
– Finally if you even drag the autowallah to the police station, is the effort worth it?
At the same time the good guys in the profession have to be mentioned. Some of the autowallahs are honest and do their job with dedication. No hassles, no arguments. Enjoy your ride, pay them the money and both the passenger and the driver are happy.
Phew!! I can go on and on about this topic, but I will stop here and let the readers think!
