State’s crackdown on autos continues; 260 cases booked, 98 vehicles seized in Bengaluru

Bengaluru:

In a crackdown on erring autorickshaw drivers, the Transport Department on Monday launched a citywide surprise checks across the city and booked as many as 260 cases for different violations. Similar drives were held in Nelamangala and Ramanagara towns as well.

The crackdown comes amid a surge in public complaints over fare manipulation, route refusals, and passenger harassment by autorickshaw drivers, as auto rickshaws are in demand after a ban on bike taxis. 

During the special drive, 22 teams of officials from the Transport Department focused on autos operating without valid permits, charging exorbitant rates , refusing to go on hire and violating traffic or transport regulations.

By the end of the day-long operation, 260 cases were registered, and 98 auto rickshaws seized for various violations in Bengaluru city. Officials booked 30 cases and seized 2 autos in Nelamangala, booked nine cases and seized four autos in Ramanagara. These included cases booked for  lack of valid documents, non-functional and tampered fare meters, and refusal to operate on metered fares.

Officials reported the highest number of violations in the Bengaluru South RTO limits, where 48 cases were booked and 18 autos seized. This was followed by Bengaluru West with 36 cases and 13 autos seized, Bengaluru East with 30 cases and 5 autos, and Electronic City zone with 26 cases and 8 autos.

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