The good autowallas

Not all auto drivers in Delhi harrass commuters. Most are polite, smiling and even agree to charge by the meter. Here are some glimpses...

With the minimum fare for autos increasing from Rs 10 to Rs 19, Delhi hopes that

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autowallas

will finally agree to stick to the law. Their unwillingness to charge by the meter is the sole reason why the

bhaiyyas

are widely despised. Otherwise, they are polite, friendly and sometimes, plain fun.

Once, while going from Connaught Place to Anand Vihar, the auto this reporter was in had no radio. On expressing boredom, the driver offered his mobile and earphones. The rest of the journey was spent listening to the live commentary of a cricket match.

That is just one instance of their general niceness. In the summers, many even offer passengers water when they stop at roadside water-carts. Who does that in today’s age?