Pre-paid counters fail; travellers pay more for app-based services.
Bangalore residents complain that prepaid auto rickshaw counters at some metro stations and the Cantonment Railway Station are understaffed and do not work throughout the day, requiring them to hire costly post paid app-based auto services.
Alisha, a college student said that metro stations like MG Road, Indiranagar had pre-paid auto counters. She said, “I have used the pre-paid counter tickets more than once but have noticed that they do not run all throughout the day. Luckily for me I use the counter at a time that it runs and pay not more than Rs. 100 after college gets over.” She added, “There are a lot of days when they are not open or have no staff and I end up booking through an app which is very expensive.”
The process of pre-paid auto counters requires passengers to pay for a ticket for the mentioned destination at the counter. It is usually not more than Rs. 100. The operator provides a token to the auto driver. A service charge of Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 is included. The auto driver receives the full amount meant for that journey.
Sri Bhartha, an auto driver who used to wait for hire at the pre-paid counter desk in Cantonment Railway station said, “The desk does not have regular and permanent staff like before. We used to get the entire money for the auto ride and a service charge was provided which went to the desk as it was a government run counter.Now the auto booking apps have taken over.”
The state government along with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had proposed to have 35 pre-paid counters outside most metro stations by December 2022. There are pre-paid counters at a few metro stations like MG Road, Indiranagar, KR Puram, Silk Institute, Nagasandra and Byapanahalli. “The proposal did not work in many metro stations due to regulation issues and understaffing,” said Srivas, additional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of BMRCL.
Manjunath, a traffic constable from AshokNagar said, “The traffic police used to appoint people to operate the pre-paid booths, however, after the BMRCL had joined hands with the state government to have counters outside metro stations since then BMRCL had appointed home guards from metro services to operate these booths.” He added, “These counters used to have several passengers using the pre-paid option, now these booths are under maintained and understaffed.”
Jaishankar, a resident from Koramangala who had issued a ticket from the pre-paid auto counter outside Cantonment Railway Station a few years ago said, “The option of pre-paid auto counters gave a feeling of not being looted. The pre-paid counters do not demand more money unlike the app run auto rickshaw drivers.” He added, “There need not be any fear of them cancelling the ride.”
AnilkumarGrampurohit, a traffic police inspector said, “The counters are put up in specific places where passengers would require transport more than other areas. These booths used to help several people to travel at ease.”
Sathiya John, a traveller from a tourist group said, “I recently landed in Bangalore from Coimbatore as a part of the travel package and had wanted to join my travel group in Jayanagar. I had heard about the pre-paid counters from my group coordinator months ago however as I approached the counter no one was there. So, I had to take a running auto which cost more than Rs. 250 to get to Jayanagar which is not fair for the distance.” She added, “I did not know that we must try to book autos through apps back then, however they are not that affordable either.”
M.N. Sreehari, Transport and Traffic Advisor to the Government of Karnataka said, “It is difficult to regulate auto drivers unless a rule is placed. Under staffing in counters is one of the reasons why pre-paid counters could not work out. The traffic police or BMRCL home guards sit in the counters.” He added, “People who travel from the outskirts would find it easier as it has a fixed price unlike the app run auto rickshaws.”
