I wonder how Chennai city is given Metro identity. As far as my understanding goes a city with almost all the facilities such as proper sanitation, pucca transportation system, less crime rate etc are given Metro status. We cannot expect more on sanitation and crimes but why do we have such a bad transportation system? Does constructing flyovers alone make the city look posh? Why can’t these ‘yellow criminals’, yeah I meant the autos, run on ‘meters’? When other metros has autos running on meters why not Chennai? I really do not know the answer for it.
A week back I had to reach a shop at besant nagar before 8 pm, and I was at Adyar bus stand at 7:45 pm, I did not get any direct bus to besi so I decided to take an auto. When I asked a auto man ‘besant nagar poganum, evlo’ (how much u charge?) without even thinking he said ‘aaruvadhu ruba kudunga’ ie. Rs.60/- OMG I got damn irritated, how dare he can ask 60 bucks? It hardly takes 5 minutes from adyar to besi by auto. I was thinking whether I should bargain, as I was sure he will not come for 20 bucks which is actually more if there was meter system in autos. Yet, I started to bargain; to my surprise in Chennai every auto man speaks economics to me. They speak as if they are the only community in this whole India who suffers from fuel hikes.
There was no limit for my irritation, felt like slapping, but obviously I could not, I reserved all my anger and turned around, I got a direct bus to besi. Thank god. I am lucky; I spent only 2/- bucks to reach besi by bus.
But sometimes I have faced situations like I will bargain for 50/- from 70/- and the whole way, the auto man will keep blabbering as if I stole his whole life with that difference of 20/- rupees, you will really feel like jumping from auto rather than to hear him speak economics and politics. But actually even that 50/- bucks which I give is more.
Chennai brought helmet system, now I see almost 100 people in the city driving without helmets, they also had seat belt system, I can spot 1000 people in the city driving without wearing a seat belt, they had yet another law ‘no smoking’ in public, I find about a lakh people in the city who fags on road. In the same way, Chennai also once had this meter system, but none knows when they implemented and when they lifted, for that matter you can see two sets of autos, 1. There will not be anything like a black box fitted in left side of the auto known as meter or 2. There will be a meter but it will be covered with a plastic cover and sealed. So, the point is anyway it’s useless.
In few years we can see auto fellows holding some big companies if they keep asking for money like this.
Chennaites know the plight of this situation and get away from these people somehow, imagine people coming from outside Chennai, its a real treat for auto men when they get to know the person is not from Chennai, they will ask as they wish. Indian part 2 movie should be made based on punishing auto men if they don’t run on meters.
I remember one of my friend’s grandparents who came from Bangalore, took an auto from nungambakkanm to mandaveli and the auto guy asked Rs.110/- if they put another 110/- to it, they can reach Bangalore itself safely by train.
If Chennai autos runs with meters I bet the city people will crown the government, but I don’t see such a thing happening or even will happen anymore. Till now I have not seen one auto driver charging based on meter, let me see how many years it takes.
Maybe my auto fare from adyar to besi will become 120/- in another two years time. I should not be shocked.
7 comments:
Very true! Most of the times I avoid taking autos! No matter how long I wait I either take a bus or my scooty (no matter how many times I fall :p). These people 'senselessly' ask some random amount as if we are mindless people! We are in Chennai and we can bargain but imagine the plight of tourists! I think we ourselves should start a campaign saying 'don't take autos in Chennai' or something!
I don't know what shit the government is doing. Sectariat construction lam they can do later and first organise this bloody auto system! Inge transportation eh aaduthu!
And regd the Indian part 2, forget that sar, make it anniyan part 2, am sure they will get belted acc to garuda puranam :D
I am peacefully traveling in blore in autos which run on meter! I at least save some energy. There I should bargaining and bad mouth about the auto fellas until I reach my end point! How much more irritating your traveling can get!
@cr - thanks for that yet another mini blog... yeah may b we can float a campaign... and heyy welcome to chennai soon, b ready to lose ur energy to bargain.. it is an endless hell...
hmmm sharan !!!!!! yessssshh a truly "to be concerned " issue , well apart from everything its us who have spoiled them, we most of the time dont bother abt the money and pay their demand, sooo its US whom shud take steps, n we represent the govt. well which i think whic ll not happen in the near future, and hence u ll soon pay 120rs for ur besi to adayar travel. " We unfortunately gottu first blame ourselves "
@gautham - yeah ! may b there are few who like to give more, but thats different... what about those who cant afford that much ?? change should happen 4m d grass route level, auto drives sld be honest when they charge. even if some passenger gives more than the required, the driver sld not accept.. thats the real change from within !!
well, chennai autos are a never ending story. As the city's USP is scorching temperature, it's even more exasperating when the auto walas drive you mad.
CR is right. Tourists are more helpless than us. Coming to Bangalore autos I really enjoyed commuting there. It's high time the government should do something about it rather than building flyovers all over the city.
Good Job SS.:)
Thank u rad :)
If the auto wala ask u extra, tell him to drop you that place and no need for a return journey :P
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