A banner that displays genuine auto fare in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Dec. 6: Autorickshaw drivers here are often accused of taking passengers for a ride when it comes to fares. The district administration is all set to crack the whip to check this menace.

The regional transport office here has launched an awareness drive and put up banners at prominent places of the city displaying the actual fares. “Autorickshaws are to charge Rs 6 for the first kilometre and Rs 3.10 for every subsequent kilometre. Between 10pm and 6am, the fare would be three times higher,” said regional transport officer Maheswar Naik.

“We have put up banners displaying this information at 10 prominent places across the city,” said Naik.

Apart from the genuine fares, five phone numbers have also been displayed on the banners. “Passengers can lodge a complaint about arbitrary autorickshaw fares by calling up those numbers. A passenger can also lodge a written complaint at the regional transport office or at the office of district collector. Action will be initiated against the autorickshaw owner concerned,” said Naik.

In the absence of a city bus service, residents of the city are heavily dependent on autorickshaws. Around 3,000 such three-wheelers operate in the city. “Because of the absence of a dedicated city bus service, commuters are often fleeced by autorickshaw drivers here,” said Tarun Meher, a local resident.

“I am happy that the administration has finally taken an initiative to check the illogical charging of high fares by autorichshaw drivers,” said Pabitra Mishra, another resident.

Officials at the Regional Transport Office held a meeting with the auto rickshaw association on October 28 and discussed the issue.