Mr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam style question - What should we do to free our Chennai from Auto drivers?

Question

Mr. Karunanidhi, Jayalalitha and other politiians also can answer.

DU: I am extreamly sorry for not addressing our president as Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam - I it is a mistake by oversight. Pl.excuse.

Secondly I have nothing against autos as a mode of transport. When autos are there somebody have to be driver. I was telling about the behaviour of the present day auto dirivers. Now in Chennai no auto is flagging down the meter. All fares are fixed by mutual agreement or quarrel or heated arguments etc. The Govenements should take responsibilty for this and correct it, otherwise there is no point in their boosting as "Porkalam".

A joke in Kumudam dt.24.1.07 in NATTU NADAPPU -Page No. 35 in which a auto driver says ' THHODA, METER POTTATHAN AUTOLA EARUVIA? SAVU GIRAKI. UNAKKU ORU AUTOVUM KIDAIKADU. STATIONKKU NADANTHU THAN POVE NEE" - promted me to post this question.

DU can add comments as reply.

Thanks for the additions by DU. I did not take her reply offensively. The exact meaning of my simple question was how to mend the misbehaviourous attitute of the Auto Drivers of Chennai? Are you able to engage an auto for a reasonable fare without bargaining or arguing or quarrelling or getting scoling in filthy language from the Autodrivers ? Do you get any respect? I was to ask further questions about the behaviour of bus conductors, shop keepers, police etc. just to draw the attention of the Govt. This is only a sample question.
I liked the 2nd para of your answer. But again who will educate them. Is it not the Govt's duty? Your question will be "Who elected?" Cetainly not the public. It is their money (Karunanidhi or Jayalalitha as the case may be) their Goondas and bogus votes by themselves, elected them. A serious thought is required to change the atmosphere. Otherwise you can not boot it as SSINGARA CHENNAI.

Answer 1

My friend, first of all its not Mr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It would be Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. And i seriously dont think getting ride of Auto drivers is going to help a lot. But educating them on few essentials would help a lot i beleive. The worst of all r the highly educated motorcylists. So i dont see how auto drivers are affecting your life. If it wasnt' for them... u did have to travel in a worser means of transport which would be our public buses. And ofcourse if you can afford a car.... why do u bother about auto drivers.... who are of much help to many others.

But i think by educating them on basic hospitality, honesty and some serious rules and regulations, etc would make it more comfortable communicating with them and enjoying a less bothered ride.


To my friend who has taken the whole issue offensively....... i am not an auto driver and i dont see what could be wrong even if i was. When educated people like these themselves cannt control their attitude.... what abt uneducated people like those drivers?

Can we as Indians just stop pointing out things and find a way to do something abt it. We are in a nation where even police stations refuse to take up cases such as " Missing Children" (our most famous news). They may be totally different issues. The point is, the entire system is wrong. By point each others mistake is not going to help. If you are not happy with ur means of transportation.... why dont you just find one for ourselves like a car or bike or watever and just let the others choose wat they.

And i said earlier also........ educating them on hospitality and few strict rules can help. Everything is unfair....... but u can make a difference.

I would just like to share one more thing....... i dont stay in Chennai.. infact no longer in India. The first time i came back....... there was so much high hopes of seeing a much improved, cleaner Chennai .... which was the impression my friends gave me. But it started proving wrong right from the moment of landing. Our so called International arrival longue was the worst. The toilet is worse than a roadside toilet....... so badly stained.... so stinky. Forget it.... do we even have a proper counter for immigration..... Fine with that as well....... what happens next.... you wait for ur bags and then these educated.... elderly men loafing around u and helping u find ur bags.... for what???????? SO U PAY THEM SOME MONEY. Ofcourse no words spoken .... but action speaks louder than words as we all know.

In comparision to all this..... i feel i can definetly put up with few uneducated people like our AUTO DRIVERS.

I think i should also try fixed meters which are already fixed high.... or take a bus ride where the conductor cares less about me standing on a step or being hit by a rouge.... or a train where people care less about others standing and are more worried about their sleep on an entire seat.


As you are saying the government should take the responsibilty.... but if the government itself is filled with narrow minded, uneducated, backward , selfish people......... will it help??
And let me ask one more thing........... who made this government???


I think i will find myself a better transportation......... NEXT TIME.... or rather stick to my legs..... LOL !!!

Answer 2

Well, in Chennai its better to avoid taking Auto Rickshaws. Because they charge over the meter and its being showed even in the recent Tamil films. So, we should better opt for other public transport services such as Buses, Electric Trains, or else Call Taxi as they run with meter and never charge extra.

But, still now, the Auto Rickshaws are the only ones who offer free transport to the pregnant women. Once when I was in Chennai, travelling with my Mom then the Auto driver said he working non stop since 2 days and never slept as he has to pay money for the government hospital bill as his wife is about to give birth to a child. Then, my Mom out of pity gave some money to him and to our surprise its not a lie, later we found out that his Auto is really inside the Government Hospital, think Royapettah.

So, for poor Automen, the government has to fix a subsidy scheme, monetary assistance etc... None should get license easily by paying money. Fake license I mean, the Traffic wing should avoid taking bribes for violation of traffic rules, and to issue driving license etc...

The Automen should all be networked and fully organised according to their respective areas/unions. Then they all should revise the fare keeping mind the current world oil prices increasing.

Then they all must come to a conclusion that they never tamper with their meters, think tamper proof meters should be installed in all Chennai ply autos. Then they also should come to a conclusion that they all agree and accept the new revised fare and wont charge extra single paise other than meter price, this works well in Kerala. So, why cant it happen in Tamilnadu? Coimbatore is much worse, no meters, front engine and price comes from the mouth, but atleast in Coimbatore they give respect when talking with passengers.

But Chennai is worst. They use vulagarities. I personally had experienced this problem. So, the entire automen's image has to be revamped. Government should involve into this, or take this to private contractors. Otherwise, God alone should help Chennai Autorickshaw industry.

But inspite of all this, wherever you reside in Chennai, you can still listen to the Auto sound. The horn, etc ... Thats the vibe, true beat of Chennai. Without Auto sound and Crow sound, its not the true Chennai.

I love Chennai even though its dirty. Wonder how foreign companies like BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Nokia all have manufacturing plants there catering to entire sub continent ( India ) based in Chennai.

Chennai is still developing. Well, government should spend highly to improve drainage systems, so that no roads and no residential or office areas in urban or rural limits of Chennai gets flooded. Then drinking water should be cheaper and efficient.

Koovum nagaram Vazhga! Dont mean to insult Chennai, but yeah, wherever you go in Chennai, Koovum has its brances everywhere, the slums, people living on Sethusamudram project pipelines etc... So pitiful condition. Cant even walk for a 5 minutes in peace in T.Nagar as beggars disturb you. Then cant even see the road as its fully smoky. Pollution.

Chennai is the place for cinema people, as they live on high luxury and politicians only. If got money, then can live. Otherwise not a nice place to settle down there, climate also horrible with humidity always high. People corrupted, cheating, lying.

One famous lyricist, even got awards from the President based in Chennai always famous and popular writing lyrics for recent tamil songs too. But his personal character is not even nice. He is a womanizer. Whats the use being rich? When there is no character ? Morality, Value, Ethics etc... ? I cant tolerate his behaviour, want to teach him a lesson by my own style, but I couldnt as he is big shot and got influence and connections with political side too.

God only should save Chennai. Even tsunami has come there, but hope in future no natural disasters should occur. God bless Chennaites.

Jai Hind!

Answer 3

I think we should fit the autos with cameras or at least sound cathchers which should be directly checked from a police control room... and for this it will take another 10 years.

Answer 4

better make use of the excellent invention : Bi-cycle and our own legs!!! they are the best option for our roads particularly at the time of traffic jams ... Time will take care of those culprits...