RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug. 8: The prepaid auto service started two years ago at the Ranchi Railway Station today remained suspended as 200 auto rickshaw drivers enrolled with pre-paid centers kept their vehicles off the road following some dispute with the traffic police.
A Harmu resident, Prabhakar, informed this saying he had to go to the station personally to pick up his guest after he was informed that the prepaid auto rickshaw service was suspended.
“Pre-paid auto rickshaws are safe. When my guest from Samastipur informed me that he did not see any prepaid auto rickshaw, I asked him to wait for me,” he said, expressing his concern over the suspension of prepaid auto rickshaw service.
Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Auto Drivers Federation Secretary Tabrez Ahmed confirmed the situation saying it all happened for some dispute with traffic personnel.
“The space specified for pre-paid auto rickshaws is limited. Hardly 50 auto rickshaws can be parked there while the number is not less than 200. In such a situation, when prepaid auto rickshaw drivers park their vehicle at any unspecified place, traffic personnel impose fines, blaming them for causing traffic congestion. Today traffic personnel seized four pre-paid auto rickshaws and this angered those operating prepaid auto rickshaws. They suspended service and asked Railway Protection Force officials to intervene into the matter,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed alleged the traffic personnel of being partial while taking action for traffic congestion. “Traffic police do not take on those who are not enrolled for pre-paid auto rickshaw service and pick up passengers directly from the station after parking their vehicles on the road causing traffic congestion. Contrary to this, when pre-paid auto rickshaws’ drivers park their vehicles on the road due to paucity of space they take action against them,” he said.
Jharkhand Pradesh Diesel Auto Drivers Federation Metropolitan President Badal Thapa echoed Tabrez demanding proper space for prepaid auto drivers as soon as possible.
Contacted officer in-charge of RPF Ranchi Railway Station post Suraj Pandey for his comment, he admitted the problem saying it will be sorted out soon.
“The problem has come to my knowledge today. As I am on medical leave, I could not handle it properly. Tomorrow, the problem will be sorted out after inspection of parking space and specifying a proper place for pre-paid auto rickshaw drivers,” Pandey said.
