TimesView It is odd that the transport authorities have failed to check this menace when it is the autorickshaw unions themselves who have flagged it more than once and offered to co-operate with officials in any crackdown. If constant checks take place, the issue can be sorted out soon, else the perception that the authorities are hand-in-glove with those plying illegally will persist.

MUMBAI: Around 30,000 of the total 1.8 lakh autorickshaws in Mumbai are operating illegally with the drivers having no licence, badge or permits, leading autorickshaw unions say.This comes close on the heels of an auto driver being arrested for masturbating in front of a woman commuter a couple of days ago. The driver did not have a licence to ply auto. The auto unions have demanded stringent punishment for such drivers and sought the assistance of the transport commissioner office in weeding out the rogues.According to statistics made available by the unions, while there are around 1.8 lakh autos plying in western and eastern suburbs daily in two shifts, only 1.5 lakh of them are those are legally operated with drivers wearing uniforms, badges, having licences and permits. “You will find a lot of drivers misbehaving with passengers during night journeys.Many of them are illegally plying the vehicles that have been condemned by RTO,'' said Shashank Rao, leader of Mumbai Autorickshawmen's Union, the biggest union in the city. Such drivers usually operate after 9 pm when there is least (or hardy any) police presence on lanes.“Some of them do not even have the driver badge,'' said another union leader. These auto drivers are known for fleecing passengers by rigging meters besides misbehaving with passengers and harassing women,” he said.Said Rao: “We had taken a morcha to the transport commissioner’s office a few weeks ago and submitted a memorandum demanding that a dedicated squad be set up to tackle the menace.” He has offered assistance from the unions which will tip off the squad. Ravi Gaikwad of the Borivli RTO said his officials have started a drive against such drivers and illegal autos in the western suburbs. Transport expert G R Vora said, “Most of them operate in cartels and the RTO/traffic police should identify and break the back of such cartels. In a past incident, one such cartel of auto drivers had attacked an RTO official in Bandra.Sources said a few cartels are in cahoots with some traffic police personnel and therefore have no fear of the law. "There is a need for pro-active policing at the stands and on roads, stringent action such as cancellation of licence/permits, and arrest of drivers at the earliest once a woman complains about sexual harassment," Vora said.Maqbool Mujawar of the Shiv Sena union said some drivers are part of a racket in which they have registered vehicles past six months and got fitness certificates, but are plying without obtaining permit.