Unauthorised auto-stands hinder traffic, inconvenience road-users

Unregulated autorickshaw stands have cropped up at many locations of Chennai, encroaching upon public space and carriageways, in the midst of ever-increasing vehicle population in the city.

Over 54,37,270 vehicles ply on the Chennai roads, resulting in congestion and causing delay in commute. More than one lakh autorickshaws operate in the city. More than 115 auto stands were permitted in 2011, and the number has increased manifold. But neither the Greater Chennai Corporation nor the Greater Chennai Traffic Police have a definite count.

Traffic flow is also affected by the location of unauthorised auto stands on the arterial roads. For instance, a row of autorickshaws, parked on EVR Salai near Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, blocks the road towards Stanley Bridge. Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses find it difficult to pass through this stretch.

Ordeal for train passengers

On Wall Tax Road, it is an ordeal for train passengers to enter Chennai Central as the autorickshaws parked in rows block the entry to the station premises. Near the Egmore railway station, unauthorised auto-stands are encroaching on the narrow Gandhi-Irwin Road. The pedestrians are the worst affected, especially at peak hours when the traffic slows down.

E.C. Ramesh, a resident of Nandanam, recently had a bad experience while parking his two-wheeler near an auto-stand near a school. “When I tried to park my bike near the auto-stand, an autorickshaw driver came running and scolded me, saying my bike would hinder the movement of their autorickshaws. No autorickshaw was in then. I told him that we were going to pick up the children from the school and would be away in just 10 minutes. Immediately another driver brought his autorickshaw and parked it there to block the space. The drivers abused me. And they treat the road as their private property.”

Motorists face the same problem near the auto-stands, be they authorised or not. The drivers mark out the stand with a rope. They abuse those inadvertently parking their vehicles there.

V. Suresh, an advocate, says, “It is doubtful whether the auto-stands are paying the civic body parking charges. Autorickshaw drivers behave as if they owned the place. Most of these drivers are members of political parties or unions. It seems that rules and regulations are not applicable to them.

Backed by politicians

S. R. Godwin, advocate and social activist, says, “Auto-stands are formed with the help of local politicians who are their honorary presidents. Many auto-stands are not registered and have not received permission from the authorities. Drivers create a ruckus when motorists park their vehicles near auto-stands.”

“Wherever a hospital or textile store or shopping mall comes up, they take up the spots nearby, encroaching upon the carriageway. These auto-stands are authorised neither by the Chennai Corporation nor the Greater Chennai Traffic Police,” he says.

C. Ramakrishnan, president of the Federation of Adyar Residents’ Association, says the auto -stands cause trouble by encroaching on roads and streets. “They are mostly illegal,” he says. “The stands monopolise the business. No other autorickshaw is allowed into the locality. Even cab aggregator drivers are not allowed to park their vehicles for a few minutes or get a ride near the auto-stands. They set their own fare structure and commuters have no other choice. For a short distance commute, they demand a high fare, and they dissuade other autorickshaw drivers from picking up senior citizens,” he says.

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Public Landing Places, Halting Places, Cart-Stands) Rules, 1999, allows the opening of halting places or stands for contract carriage such as autorikshaws. When a local body proposes to provide a public landing place, halting place or cart-stand shall submit an application to the police. The application should contain the survey number, extent, and classification of the land. Before giving sanction, the inspector should consult the Regional Transport Authority. Such permits should be renewed periodically on payment of fees prescribed by the local body.

According to the Tamil Nadu Auto Drivers’ Federation, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, grant of permits or notification of auto-stands stopped several years ago. Officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation and the Greater Chennai Traffic Police confirm it. The city has more than 2,500 auto-stands.

M. Sivaji, general secretary of the Federation, says the Chennai Corporation has not granted permits for auto-stands for the last 15 years. So auto-stands come up on their own. Stands bring in a degree of visibility and make it easier for people to hire an autorickshaw. “We always advise our members to collect the fare in accordance with the tariff fixed. First of all, the government should revise the tariff because it was fixed in 2013. Once the tariff is revised and the meter system is implemented, all issues will blow over.”

Meeting to discuss regulation

A senior officer of the Greater Chennai Traffic Police says that officials of the Transport Department, the Chennai Corporation, and the police will meet soon to discuss how to regulate the auto-stands and autorickshaws in the city. “If there is any complaint about auto-stands encroaching on roads or public space, we will take action,” he says.