Published 24 May 2013 Mid day

Commuters at Kharghar are facing problems as auto rickshaws are available but they charge more than expected. According to the RTO charge sheet, the customers feel that the charges are too high and want them to
reduce. Passengers also complain that the frequency of these share autos is not good and one passenger has to wait for other passengers to come. Due to this there are chances of then missing the train to CST as the frequency of the
train is also at the interval of 20 minutes.

Nandkumar Naik, Deputy RTO of Kalamboli, said, “The policy is given by the government and we are no one to reduce the same. We can’t force the auto drivers to go by meter or by sharing, it is their will. But going by meter is a must. We actually measure the distance according to the meter which is divided by three and the same is being charged to the passengers. It is the decision of the passengers and the auto drivers.”

Kharghar auto union which runs under the name of Ekta Rikshaw Sangathana is all ready to start the share auto in Kharghar as soon as possible. The commuters mark that they will utilize these share autos only when the RTO manipulates the charge sheet and the frequency is made available more.

Vishnu Tukaram Patil, the President of Kharghar Ekta Auto Rikshaw Sangathan, said, “We are here to serve the people of Kharghar, but we do not get enough passengers for the share autos as we have put forward in front of the RTO about the revision on the charges that will benefit the commuters as well as the auto drivers. The rates laid down by the RTO are so
high that it does not help the commuters, hence they prefer to go by meter rickshaws.”

The commuters also prefer to travel by buses rather than the autos as they don’t wish to spend money for autos. Certainly, there is no good frequency for buses though and hence there is no option left for the commuters.

Deepshikha Jain, a student passed out Std 12th and a resident of Kharghar, said, “It will be convenient for student like us if share autos start and that will surely save our money. But this will happen only if RTO reduces the cost and helps us with the same. This will surely save our time but has to be made frequent at all places.”

More than saving money the commuters mention that it will save time as the autos will be easily available. But only problem they mention is excess money.

Prema More, working at MIDC Andheri and a resident of Kharghar, said, “It will be convenient for us if the share autos, but only thing is that they are too costly. At a distance of 5 km, they should charge Rs 10, but these drivers charge us Rs 15. Even in some emergency we can go anywhere in less money. The auto drivers do not go according to the meter and if they come to know any outside passenger then they charge you double saying that this is fixed rate till that specific distance.”