Deputy regional transport officer meets auto drivers to promote meter system

NASHIK: Deputy regional transport officer Jayant Patil on Thursday conducted meetings with auto drivers in an attempt to convince them to ply by meter and also to start operating on share auto routes.
The meeting was held near CBS, where auto drivers gave a patient hearing to what the deputy RTO had to say.
Speaking to TOI, Patil said that though fare by meter has been made mandatory in Nashik, auto drivers are not keen to ply by meter or as per the tariff of share autos."Out attempt was to convince them that fare by meter was always beneficial to them as well as the passengers."
Patil tried to explain to the auto drivers that carrying more than three passengers in their vehicles only meant danger to their life and the lives of the passengers and unnecessary load on the vehicle, thereby resulting in more fuel consumption and wear and tear of the vehicle.
He said auto drivers' fear of losing business was unfounded and that eventually, even passengers would understand the benefit and start taking autos more frequently, as fare by meter meant dropping passengers directly to their destination as compared to taking an ST bus.
On their part, auto drivers brought up the issues of illegal autos and overloading in ST buses. On this, the deputy RTO said that as of today, almost all the 22,000 autos in the city were not adhering to the rules. If even 80% of autos started following the rules, the administration could concentrate on taking action on the remaining 20% and also on ST buses.
Patil added that many such meetings would be held in the future to convince auto drivers.