Rain spells boom for auto-drivers

If you work in the Millennium City and rely on public transport to get to your office from a Metro station, think twice before hiring an auto during monsoon.

If you work in the Millennium City and rely on public transport to get to your office from a Metro station, think twice before hiring an auto during monsoon.

HT Image

Autorickshaw drivers are making moolah in the city as they have increased rates by almost 100% during the rains for the last two days. In the absence of other means of public transport like intra-city buses, people are left with no choice but to pay through their nose.

“I usually take an auto from Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road to 32nd Milestone, which costs me R50-60. But today I got down at Iffco Chowk Metro station and a distance of about one-and-a-half kilometres cost me R100,” said Deepak Aurora, a kathak dancer.

Kaur Gulati, who works in an advertising agency, was not too happy with the situation either. “I rely on a private auto to reach office. They normally charge me R100 from Sector 14 to Golf Course Road. But today an auto driver asked for double the amount citing rain and traffic jam as the reason. I had no choice but to comply,” said Gulati.

“The autorickshaws do not have a metre and charge whatever they want. During the monsoon or festival season, they increase the rates unreasonably and we are left with no choice but to comply,” said Rina Chaturvedi, a resident of DLF II.

The feeble administration has failed to rein in these auto drivers as well as regulate tariff structure. They are at liberty to ask any tariff from commuters. Neither Gurgaon traffic police nor transport department is ready to touch this issue for the reasons best known to them.