Your Friendly Philosopher & Guide

Many topics to blog about but then this is about what my sister and I did recently to ‘try’ to put a stop to the auto menace in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu government restructured the auto fares recently, which says – Rs 14 for the first 2 KMs and Rs 6 for every subsequent km (it is Rs 5 for taxis). 40 paise for 5 minutes waiting and 25 per cent extra charge on regular fare between 10 pm and 5 am. I was a bit happy about what the Karunanidhi government had to offer for once to the always-suffering-middle-class people of Chennai. Most newspapers including ‘The Hindu’, reported as if the system is working perfectly fine since January 26th, 2007 and that the RTO has not received any complaints on this front.

I live in Alacrity flats, Velacherry, and we are blessed with an auto stand, which comprise of the most arrogant assholes of Chennai. They never use meter, they never use rate cards, and always charge as if they own the best Boeing in the city. They literally get into arguments with every resident, but end of the day out of mere desperation & helplessness people are forced to take their autos at least to reach the bus stand. And they pay through their nose.

They still charge Rs 20, when the real charge is just Rs 14. It is not about a meager amount of Rs 6 that people mind paying. It is about getting cheated every morning by these khakhi clad illiterate mother fuckers.

I have stopped dealing with these buggers long back – I don’t look at them, and never get into any conversation with them. And whenever I look at them – I feel like slapping them then and there. But then I remember Gandhigiri as portrayed in Lage Raho Munna Bhai. May be Sanjay Dutt would ask us to pay double of what the Auto guys ask, which might make them feel guilty probably after a century, and this menace would come to end before our great grand children die!

Very decently the newspapers had given a phone number to be contacted if any auto guy refused to put the meter. My sister called the number to enquire what is the procedure to complain. And he said, you need to note the number of the auto, then write a letter, and submit it in the Thiruvanmayur RTO, which is some 8 kms from my place. And how do we reach there? By bus, or by walk, or by bike – because I am sure if we take the auto the whole purpose is lost.

To be continued….