Auto drivers refuse passengers because they cannot be tracked easily by the authorities

Since January 2015, the Traffic Police have booked at least 34,174 cases against auto drivers for various violations, including refusal to ply and excess fare. “We keep getting complaints on our helpline every day. We have recommended suspension of 19,858 licenses,” said M.A. Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

Auto drivers are refusing passengers because they cannot be tracked easily by the authorities. Even if a passenger records a vehicle’s licence number and submits it to the police, chances are that the auto has changed hands and the records have not been updated, or the original address is no longer valid. According to drivers and auto unions, measures introduced by the traffic police such as the BC4S have not been effective either.

Started in January 2014 as a means of keeping track of auto drivers, the BC4S, or Bangalore City Saptavarna Suraksha Sugama Sanchara scheme, has for all intents and purposes failed. In the scheme, auto drivers could submit all their original documents for verification and get a sticker with an alpha numeric code. This could then be used for tracking the auto in case of complaints.

M. Manjunath, president of the Aadarsh Auto Taxi Drivers Union, says, “There were several problems regarding printing of the stickers. Also, the police would insist on the original owner of the auto being present when the second owner would file for a sticker and submit all documents. This is impossible in several cases.”

Another issue was that in many cases, the address on the licence of the auto driver would be different from his actual address.

“Drivers change homes every year. When we asked them to accept supporting documents like rental agreements, the police refused,” said Mr. Manjunath.