Pune: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) and city traffic police had drawn a plan to start prepaid auto-rickshaw booths at four locations, including Pune Junction, Shivajinagar ST stand and station, Swargate ST stand and Sangam bridge. One of the booths was set up at Pune junction but is not working till date.
A senior RTO officer said they cannot begin operations due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and all policy decisions will be taken after the new Central government is formed.
Around 2.5 lakh passengers visit the Pune railway junction every day. Thousands of passengers book auto-rickshaws from the station for their destination. Passengers always complain about auto drivers not plying by the meter and charging exorbitantly. The Railways has developed a huge parking space for auto-rickshaws so the passengers can book them with ease. But most of the drivers park their rickshaws near Mahatma Gandhi statue, which causes inconvenience for other passengers.
“We had set up a prepaid booth. Due to the MCC, we are unable to start it. We have already planned and are making a rate chart. Now, the stand will start after formation of new Central government,” said RTO Sanjay Raut.
However, the traffic police in charge at Pune station said on condition of anonymity, “They (RTO) had set up the booth two months ago and we were told that each auto-rickshaw coming to Pune station will be going through the prepaid booth.”
On the other hand, the railway official said that RTO official is not keeping them in the loop.
“We had given space near the new auto-rickshaw stand. We want each auto-rickshaw under the prepaid booth. These drivers charge exorbitantly and most of them refuse to ply. We had asked them to initiate the facility as soon as possible.”
The problem