Rs 155 from Goa to M’luru by Train! Rs 200 from M’luru Junction to Kadri by Auto?

Rs 155 from Goa to M’luru by Train! Rs 200 from M’luru Jct to Kadri by Auto?

Rs 155 from Madgaon-Goa to Mangaluru Junction Railway Station, Kankanady, while Rs 200 from Mangaluru Junction to Kadri by auto-rickshaw. What a rip-off?

Mangaluru: Get out of the Mangaluru Junction railway station in the city and you’re greeted by a posse of auto-rickshaw drivers, all demanding much more than the actual fare. Haggling gets you nowhere because the drivers have decided among themselves the rates to offer. If you arrive early in the morning or late at night, sometimes drivers demand as much as Rs. 250 for a distance of 5 km. But in order to avoid all the hassles that you have to put up with these arrogant auto-rickshaw drivers, it’s better to call an Ola cab or any other cab service offering reasonable rates. But this is not an option for everyone, particularly for the aged or people who are new to the city. And especially when the auto drivers find that you don’t speak Tulu or Kannada, then there are chances you’ll get charged more. Bah humbug!

I had been also fleeced by these auto-rickshaw drivers many a times when I return from Madgaon, during my frequent trips. Having fed up with these arrogant and rude auto drivers, I now park my vehicle at the Railway station, pay a reasonable parking fee, go on my trip, come back, get into my vehicle and head on to my house- wow! much cheaper than paying an enormous fare to these greedy drivers, who are ready to make few extra bucks without any consideration to the visitors to the City. And for that matter, no law enforcement officials nor MCC nor district administration has done nothing against it- they all have been promising to “TAKE ACTION” against these drivers, but until now “NO ACTION” has been taken.

A travel by train from Mangaluru junction-Kankanady to Madgaon will cost you around Rs 155 in general category, where as take an auto when you come back and want to go to your residence, you could be paying between Rs 200-Rs 300 for a distance of 5 kms- 7 kms. What a rip off? Now that the new train service Kudla express has been started between Mangaluru junction and Yeshawantpur-Benagaluru, where you pay Rs 130 on general class or little more on sleeper class, where as to reach to the station or go back home once you arrive you will pay around Rs 200-350 for a short distance. And this has been going on without any police or district administration authorities looking into it and taking action. Seems like a daylight robbery, and no city officials, either police or other authorities has done little about the apparent fleecing of travelers.

Even though a pre-paid auto-rickshaw counter was installed with support from Corporation Bank, and made to run it by Willy’s Auto Park from City-that didn’t last long since its operation in July 2005. The counter was shut down since district administration were reluctant to pay a security deposit to Railways dept. towards power supply. Now the counter is a “monument”, and around it you could see these drivers playing cards. Not all auto rickshaw drivers are out to fleece customers. Mahesh says, “I never charge more than the fare. I won’t get anything from such earnings. The person who is paying has also worked hard for his or her livelihood. Who am I to steal from him?”. But sorry, there are not many drivers like Mahesh out there, who go by the fare meters or rules.

Another grouse is auto rickshaw drivers demanding excess fare if there is an extra load of luggage. Your attempts to convince the auto-rickshaw driver to go by the meter can end in an argument. Susan Dias, an IT business rep who makes frequent trips to Mangaluru from Madgaon-Goa speaking tom Team Mangalorean said “I go through this ordeal all the time. Looking at my nature the drivers have been charging me double all the time. For my trip from Mangalore Junction railway station to Hotel Taj Gateway-Bunder road, I am always charged around Rs 350-400. Once a driver charged me Rs. 40 over the charge of Rs 350 he agreed when I got into his auto-When I refused to pay, he started shouting at me,” “Guess, we are all victims here. The situation will not change unless rules are strictly enforced,” she added.

Many commuters feel that regular checks would help keep errant auto rickshaw drivers in line. Sources reveal that many a times police conduct drives regularly at major railway stations and bus stands. But how far that is true, God only knows. “We book drivers for demanding excess fare or refusing to ply, and may seize the vehicle if they lack proper documents,” said one police inspector. In a case of repeat offenders, licences may be cancelled. True or false you guess it? “However, in a growing city like Mangaluru traffic police are involved in other duties, like managing traffic. We do not have the manpower to conduct intensive drives,” he police inspector added. Oh well, we hear such comments all the time. So what is the solution at the moment to straighten up these auto drivers who are ripping off customers.

“I don’t know about the whole of Karnataka, but living in Mangaluru for more than six months, one thing I can definitely tell is that it is the worst place to travel by auto-rickshaws. Minimum fare system is something I have never seen here and gone by the meter is a rare sight indeed, many times. Many Auto drivers specially during peak hours never run on meter. They demand big amount to travel even to short distances. If you decide to clarify with the driver you will land into arguments.” says Samuel John, an IT employee, who frequently uses auto-rickshaw for transportation in a city.

“Getting an auto by meter is next to impossible. Auto-wallahs must be fined strictly for not following norms. Due to traffic issues, autos charge high fare rather than going by meter” said Roopa, a college student. So it seems like the auto-rickshaw counter at Mangaluru Junction needs to be started again without any delay, or the administration should post police force at the station to take control of these auto drivers trying to rip off the travellers. Anyone listening out there- I hope this report will wake up our “beloved” officials and kindly do the needful to stop all the hardships faced by the common man trying to hire an auto to get home or go to the railway station. Only hope there would be a “Website Impact” soon. Thank You!