Nagpur: The auto-rickshaw menace continues in the city unabated. At most of the busy squares like the Rani Jhansi Square, Variety Square, Shankar Nagar Square, LIC Square these auto-rickshaw drivers rule the roost. They chose to go wrong way on wrong side without the fear of traffic police. They keep going in circles to solicit passengers. The rule of plying the auto-rickshaws by meter seems to be enforced only for a few days. At many squares, these autos blatantly break the red-signal and ply the vehicles. On many occasions, these Auto-rickshaw drivers make very risky turnings or cross the squares breaking the red signal barely missing cars or other SUVs travelling at great speed to cross the square before the signal turns red. This they do with many passengers seated in their autos putting the lives of all the passengers at risk.
Nagpur Today spoke to the In-charge of Traffic in the city Deputy Commissioner of Police Bharat Tangde who said that he is going to tighten the traffic arrangements in the city from November 1, 2014. According to him, the traffic department is devising ways and planning to ensure that the law breakers of one square are apprehended at the very next square.
Nagpur Today also spoke to some road users about the auto-rickshaw drivers and their menace…
Juhi Walia, an MBA Graduate, recounting the horror of autos, told Nagpur Today that the lawbreaker auto drivers care a hoot for lives of their passengers and other vehicle owners as well. On umpteen times, the auto drivers zoom past haphazardly between gap of two other vehicles traversing on the same road putting lives of all including auto passengers at peril.
Nilay Sondawale said that the auto drivers never give side for overtaking. Moreover, without showing any signal or indicator, these autowallahs stop suddenly whenever they see a passenger. When denied by the passenger, the auto drivers resume the journey without bothering who is coming from rear side of the road.
A senior citizen Moses said that these autowalahs buzz-pass you on the road suddenly blaring their weird horns which can scare any person especially a senior citizen.
By Samuel Gunasekharan. Photographs by Vinay Thorat
