Auto-rickshaw drivers are ubiquitous public servants! Yes, you read that right. With over 1 lakh[1] of them just in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and professing to take you to any nook and corner of the city and its outskirts, autos play a crucial role in transportation. It cannot be denied either that most of the city loves to dislike drivers; even those that are on a short visit to the city are warned of the all-true fleecing nature of drivers. The drivers’ often pronounced “kattupadi aagathu” (translation: the tariff you propose to pay is not economically viable), “return savaari kidaikathu” (translation: I will not get a customer back to my stand or area of operation), and refusals to take you to destinations of your choice constitute more fact than fiction. What’s worse? – those tamper-proof electronic meters that stare at you, almost mockingly, throughout your ruddy auto-rickshaw ride! The long minutes of bargaining, of putting up with the driver’s odd and at times rude behaviour, present all too frustrating a circumstance to care for auto-rickshaws or drivers anymore.
If only the fare meters worked…If only things were different…
On the other hand, all of us have heard of stories where auto drivers have played the role of the good samaritan – the case of the honest driver who took to the police station a bag full of jewellery you’d forgotten in the rickshaw, the case of the friendly driver who brought you safely back home from a late night theatre practice, and the all-favourite case of drivers operating free of cost hours before delivery – the prasavathukku ilavasam autos. That neighbourhood auto driver whom not just you and your family knows but the guests to your house also would know a little too well that the driver becomes a member of your extended family! And stories of how auto drivers work hard to get their children educated in english-medium schools, and how those kids grow up to bring laurels to the state and the country too! So many more heart-warming tales exist – those of hard-work, success, and most importantly acts of humanity by that section of the society which gets only bad attention, if any.
If only all of us cared enough to change things for good…
If only things were different…
Worry not, for they shall be. Beginning April 2013, things are going to be different. Watch this space for more details.
[1] The statistic is not official, thanks to legality and illegality of operations, and poor documentation.
Thank you An
12th i went irumbuliyur TO Vadapalani by Autoraja.. its 290 fare & 10 rupees service tax only..its very cheap..thanks to auto raja..
I have been using service of Call taxi for many years, and today, it was first time for us to use auto service through Auto Raja. Initially, we were apprehend about the service while doing the booking, since it was first time.
இன்றுதான் முதன்முதலாக
ஆட்டோ ராஜா சேவை எனக்கு கிடைத்தது !
உங்களது அண்ணாதுரை என்கிற ஓட்டுனர்
சிறப்பாக செயல்பட்டார் !
சொன்ன நேரத்திற்கு ஆட்டோ வந்தது !
மூன்று மணி நேரம் பயணம் செய்து,
ரூ. 480 கொடுத்தேன் - மகிச்சியுடன் !
கடந்த 3 வருட காலமாக
கால் டாக்ஸியில்தான்
பயணம் செய்துகொண்டு இருந்தேன் !
ஆட்டோக்களின் தொல்லை தாளாமல் -
டாக்ஸி க்கு சென்றேன் !
திரும்பவும் ஆட்டோ பக்கம் என்னை திருப்பிய
''ஆட்டோ ராஜா'' வுக்கு
நன்றி !
"It was great experience using the service from
Feels good to know. Actually I saw the writeup in today’s eenadu magazine. Commendable. I am waiting to use these autos on my next trip to madras. Hope the number of autos growexponentially in your org.