Despite the challans and warnings, the shared auto-rickshaws in the millennium city of Gurgaon continues to be troublesome for commuters, especially women who often don’t have many choices when it comes to transportation
Permitted only to carry three passengers at a time, the shared auto-rickshaws carry ten passengers or even more at one go. ‘The shared auto-rickshaws are uncomfortable as they are over crowded. There is a high chance of being eve-teased by men. It also posses a safety risk. But there is not other option to commute in Gurgaon’, said Shefali Saini, a daily commuter of shared auto-rickshaws.
Another commuter Sujata Verma complained, ‘The auto-rickshaw driver does not move until there are ten people seated in auto.’
The city administration has made permit for auto-rickshaws mandatory from this year. But this has not deterred auto drivers from breaking rules. Almost all of them continue to carry eight to ten passengers.
‘We are allowed to carry three passengers at a time. But if we do so, then we won’t be able to earn. So, we pay for challans or give officials some money in order to carry ten passengers,’ said an auto-rickshaw driver who is in this business from seven years.
According to official data,in 2013, 1,591 challans were issued to auto- rickshaws drivers. As many as 796 challans have been issued till October 5, 2014.
‘We issue challans and take their licenses . But there are more than 15,000 auto-rickshaws in Gurgaon and it is difficult to monitor everybody,’ said a police official.