An autorickshaw in Cuttack. Telegraph picture

Cuttack, June 16: A high court constituted committee is considering the introduction of the prepaid autorickshaw system in Cuttack city by setting up prepaid counters at the railway station and the bus terminus.

The committee, headed by Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissioner B.K. Sharma, is examining the proposal submitted by a sub-committee formed by it to suggest ways and means for introduction of the system.

Though the sub-committee had submitted a proposal for opening of prepaid autorickshaw counters (ARCs) first at the railway station and subsequently at Badambadi Bus Stand, the committee had asked it to examine it and prepare a draft guideline for operation of the prepaid ARCs.

“The sub-committee is expected to submit the draft guideline to the committee before it meets on July 5,” amicus curiae P.R. Dash told The Telegraph.

“The high court had directed for introduction of the prepaid autorickshaw system in Cuttack city while hearing a PIL on charging of irrational fares by the three-wheelers on March 2, 2011, and constituted the committee for expediting implementation of the order,” Dash said.

Apart from the police commissioner, the committee has the deputy commissioner of police, Cuttack, regional transport officer, Cuttack, and the additional transport commissioner of Orissa police motor vehicle division.

“The sub-committee had suggested the opening of two prepaid ARCs for the two gates at the railway station and manning of the entire system by police personnel. It had also suggested dividing the entire city into 22 zones with uniform fares for areas in each of the zones,” a committee member said.

The sub-committee is also expected to finalise the fare structure under the prepaid autorickshaw system by the time it submits the draft guideline for operation.

The distance between major destinations pose difficulty in finalisation of fixed fares. The busiest thoroughfares and end locations are less than 8km apart.