Autorickshaws wait for passengers outside Cuttack railway station. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 25: The prepaid autorickshaw service is likely to be introduced in the city from September. Police sources said the new system would operate from September 25.

Earlier, the deadline for launching the service was August 15.

“There was a delay in the setting up the required infrastructure on part of the railways to start the service from gate No. I and II at Cuttack railway station. However, we expect that the new system would be introduced from September 25,” said a senior police officer .

Two prepaid autorickshaw counters are being built in front of both the gates of the railway station. Apart from this, the railways will provide a parking area of 500 metres near the two prepaid autorickshaw counters.

Earlier on March 2, Orissa High court had directed the police for introduction of the prepaid autorickshaw system in Cuttack city while hearing a PIL on charging of irrational fares by the three-wheelers.

Subsequently, a high court committee, headed by Cuttack-Bhuabaneswar police commissioner B.K. Sharma, was constituted along with the deputy commissioner of police, the regional transport officer and the additional transport commissioner of Orissa police motor vehicle division as its members.

“Autorickshaws charging exorbitant fares is nothing new. We hope that with introduction of the prepaid auto service, such issues would be checked. However, till the system is introduced, the auto drivers will keep on charging high from the passengers who arrive at the station during late night and early morning,” said Monalisa Das, a commuter.

Earlier, uncertainty loomed over the fate of the prepaid autorickshaw system, as the date for launching the service had been postponed. Similarly, the Orissa Autorickshaw Association alleged that it had not been consulted over the service so far.

“No doubt, the service is a welcoming step. But, it is a merely an eye-wash as the association has not been consulted on how to introduce the service in an effective manner,” said president of the autorickshaw association Subhas Singh.

Singh said, the association had also not been consulted regarding fixation of fares and other important issues on the matter.

Police sources said, a minimum fare of Rs 30, has been fixed for a distance of 2km from Cuttack railway station for the prepaid service in the city has been divided into 22 zones apart from Ring Road. Though the fare appears high on the face, it will come down when the distance increases.

The much awaited pre-paid auto-rickshaw service is likely to be introduced for the first time in the city from September. Sources in Commissionerate police said that the new system would be made operational from September 25.

Earlier, the deadline for launching the much pre-paid auto-rickshaw was scheduled for August 15.

“There was a delay in the setting up the required infrastructure on part of the railways to start the pre-paid auto-rickshaw service from the Gate no I and II of the Cuttack railway station. However, we expect that the new system would be introduced from September 25,” said a senior official.

The work for the construction of the two prepaid autorickshaw counters (ARCs) is being carried out in front of the both gates of the railway station. Besides this, the railways will provide a parking area of 500 meters near the two prepaid autorickshaw counters.

It can be mentioned that the High Court had earlier directed for the 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.

Subsequently, a high court constituted committee headed by Cuttack-Bhuabaneswar police commissioner B.K. Sharma was constituted along with deputy commissioner of police, regional transport officer and the additional transport commissioner of Orissa police motor vehicle division as its members.

“Autorickshaw charging exorbitant fares is nothing new. We hope that with the introduction of the prepaid auto service, such kind of issues could be checked. However, till the system is introduced the passengers arriving at late night and early morning at the station will be charged high by the three-wheelers,” said Monalisa Das, a commuter.

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms large over the fate of the pre-paid autorickshaw system as already the date for launching the service has been postponed. Similarly, the Orissa Autorickshaw Association has alleged that the association has not been consulted over the prepaid autorickshaw service so far.

“Nodoubt, the prepaid autorickshaw system is a welcoming step. But it is a merely an eye-wash as till now the association has not been consulted on how to introduce the service in an effective manner,” said Autorickshaw Association president Subhas Singh.

According to Singh, the association has also not been consulted regarding fixation of fares and other important issues on the matter.

Commissionerate police sources said that minimum fare of Rs 30 has been fixed for the prepaid autorickshaw service in the city that has been divided into 22 zones apart from the ring road. Though the fare appears high on the face, but the fare would come down when the distance increases.