I have filed an R.T.I. application under the R.T.I. Act 2005 in your office regarding the Auto Rickshaw plying in Dimapur, because there was always argument on the street between the passenger and the Driver which lead to confrontation and apprehension etc. It is because of the extra fare charges by the driver above the prescribe rate. With reference to my reply in your office under RTI Act by Deputy Commissioner Dimapur.
I am obliged to submit this few points for the grievances of the Auto Rickshaw passengers in Dimapur before the Deputy commissioner to take necessary action during apprehension:-
1. Extra passenger fare :- The Auto fare is randomly charged by the Driver if the passenger hired or Line passenger from one parking to another.
(a)Fare Charges was Rs 15/- from (parking Lot No.10) to Toulazouma Village per passenger made by Moangwati Aier Deputy Commissioner Dimapur Vide Order No.DTO/DMR/RTA-01/02/2796 from the year 2011 with effect from 4th May to till 25th Feb-2014. The Driver charged Rs 20/- in place of Rs.15/- (about two years nine months). Again the revised rate was made by N.Hushili Sema Deputy Commissioner Dimapur from Rs 15/- to Rs 20/- Vide Order No.DTO/DMR/RTA-1/02/PT-111/6120-25 Dated the 25th Feb’2014 to till 5th Feb’2015.the Driver charged Rs.30/- in place of Rs.20/- Per head from parking Lot No.10 to Toulazouma Village (about One year). From 5th Feb’2015.(Published in Nagaland Post) Onwards the then Deputy commissioner Dimapur Shri.Wezope Kenye reduces the fare charges from Rs 20/-to Rs 15/- but the Auto Driver still charges Rs 30/- till today. (Double fare Charge from actual rate )
(b)Parking Lot No.5 & 33 (Dhobhinala) to D.C. Court. The driver charges Rs 15/- but your revised rate is Rs10/- (33 % Extra charged). From Dhobinala to Thahekhu Village the revised rate is Rs 10/- but the Driver charges Rs 20/-
Most of all the parking is of the same extra fare charges by the Driver. (This is only given an example, not ill will/motive against the Drivers of parking No.10,5 and 33 ) When the crude oil price reduces in international market, the Auto driver never reduces the fare charged from the passengers.
It is triple in the night time services from the actual rate prescribed by the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur. why?
2. Over load Passenger :- For Line passenger the drivers force to accommodate four passenger on the back seat and two or three in the front, total passengers always not less than 6 (Six) (passengers) sometime 8 passengers of RE 2 stroke made by Bajaj company and alike but it is actually 3 (three) passenger seat.
When the passengers protest, the driver refused to go on. When we have an emergency it touches the battery. This is a kind of mental harassment.
It was during the time of Shri.H.K. Khulu,IAS Additional Deputy Commissioner Dimapur fixed the number of passenger, on 19th Feb’1988, in his Order it is written, “It is also decided that total number of passengers of an Auto Rickshaw will be strictly 3 (three) persons only.
This extra fare charges by the Driver and overload passenger is facing the problem everyday by the passengers in this commercial hot Dimapur.
3. Hire Charged :- For example from parking No.6. (New Market) to Parking No.10.(Nagarjan Parking) the charge is Rs.35/-From Parking No.10 to Toulazouma the hired rate is Rs.70/- If I hired from New Market to Toulazouma via super Market. It is like this,(a)parking No.6.to parking No.10.=Rs.35/-(b) Parking No.10, to Toulazouma Rs.70/- i.e a+b=Rs105/- They should not charged more than Rs.105/- but they charged Rs.200/- I have lost Rs.95/- per hired. For you it doesn’t matter, but it matters to me.
Now the passenger are looking for non-Local Driver because of little adjustment from them, in this way the competent authority discouraged the local driver to eradicate the unemployed problem in the state.
4. Documents :- Most of the Auto Rickshaw Driver has no valid documents. There is no insurance policy and if the occupant died or injured in an accident the owner of the vehicle is forced to compromise with small amount to compensate the victim. Is it a life that has worth of these much amount? When they were caught without valid documents the Driver has to pay some amount to the Police Officer for Compromised, but unfortunately when accident take place life and death cannot compromised, police are taken fine for compromising with the Driver in lieu of the seized vehicle/arrest during MV Checking.
5. Uniform and prescribed Rate :- The present Deputy Commissioner Dimapur in his Order it is written, “All the Auto Rickshaw Drivers are hereby directed to display a copy of the revised Fare Chart in their vehicle for public convenience. It is the fact that none of the Auto Rickshaw driver display fare chart on their vehicle. Also the Auto Drivers are directed to wear their uniform unless the passengers should not pay the fare to the commuters with effect from 1st August 2016 and the Dy. Commissioner traffic Dimapur issued the identity of the Driver which has been paste on the back side of the Driver is maintain by very few, till today they don’t follow your Order.
The DC in his Order said, “Anybody found violating this order will be sternly dealt with according to the provisions of law”
Again it is written “For school students in uniform there will be a concession of 15% and for physically challenged persons, there will be a concession of 25% from the actual fare. Non-compliance of the order will be strictly dealt with as per the provision of the Law “I was never witnessed any of the Driver given concession to this reservation.
Why the Apex tribal Hoho/NGO silent and don’t pressure the District administration and the police force?
Why electronic meter reading (Distance measure) is impossible in Dimapur, if it is possible in other cities, or why the city bus is not introduced for the common people.
I thank Shri Rikhyo Kikon Lotha a concerned citizen of Dimapur for his article published in Nagaland Post on 2nd Nov.2015 for fitting of electronic meter box. I was never witnessed your rejoinder to his article as well as my article. Why the administrative dept. is so weak in Dimapur for administration of justice?
Why the Deputy Commissioner Dimapur does not follow his Order for public protection and let the passenger and Driver fight among themselves. The Deputy Commissioner should be liable for prosecution of the defaulters.
The present existing system is only in letters not in spirit, you are the Leaders who should walk the talk. Why don’t you shift your paradigms to your Order?
Whether there was any body found violation of this Law or not, If yes how many of them been penalized so far? If not! Why? Why the competent authority concerned only for the Driver and ignored the rights of the common passengers.
I want to know how many violators/defaulters on the above SL No.1 to 5 have been so far persecuted and penalized. For any clarification/rectification if any for maintaining the smooth running of Auto Rickshaw between the passengers and the commuters. Even If it is not rejoinder to my article, I will understand that you have admitted/surrendered before the Auto Rickshaw Union Dimapur.
Pfukrulhi Khupfuh
akrukhupfuh@gmail.com
