15 minutes later I was still standing on the road. I had just finished arguing with 3 auto drivers and I was bugged. Just then, another stopped by me - I told him angrily '45 bucks and no more' and for a change he said 'get in'. Wow. All the waiting did pay off. And to my shock, he TURNS THE METER ONNNNNNN!!!! Yep..I am still alive and all for a 15 minute lecture on why I should insist on asking the autowallas to use a meter- Was this guy for real???????????
His rant 'I don't blame you. It is the mistake of autowallahs who will not use the meter. Corrupt buggers. There used to be a time when people asked us 'Sir, can you come to...'; these days its just 'Eyyy' (a derogatory way of addressing). This is what happens if every other person on the road becomes an autowallah - our breed has been permeated by those without class or skill'!
Take away : I pay a 50%- 60% premium on autofares when I was under the belief that I was driving a hard bargain and even autowallah's feel that there occupation is infested with the people of no calibre! :)!
8 comments:
I think Auto-wallahs are a pain anywhere in India, more so in Delhi.
Autowallahs are a mixed breed. Some get you shocked while others get your temper to soaring heights. Good one. Check my blog for pics of Hampi.
Auto's in chennai use the meter.Amazing... This is the first am hearing something like this.Btw they charge you extra coz they have other unforeseen expenses like paying the traffic constable 'Maamul'.There are some good guys and there are some fellows who would like to take us on a ride.Well if we start about cleaning the system of auto fares then we have to clean the entire system... the corrupt system.
@ meera - agreed
@ vasudhev... well, its a govt mandate! they have been given 3 months to get their meter fixed. As for charging extra, i am not sure if maamul is the real reason -one guy tole me 'meter itself will come to 45' so i cant take u for that, as if going by meter makes it a loss!
yea, the whole system needs to be cleaned but i care about autos cos that's my mode of transportation every day!
@mridula - dunno about delhi, but using a meter (unles not terribly rigged!) is anyday welcome over haggling for 10-15 mins and putting up with these guys abuses!
Govt always give these mandate.. but do they really check whether the autowallah's have implimented is the big question. Hopefully atleast this time chennai auto's will run with proper meter..
Thanks for visiting my blog.Yes i am from VM Mylapore.
@ TS ... agreed, this time the mimimum has moved upto 14 bucks... but people refuse to change!!!
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