Prepaid autorickshaws at Cuttack railway station. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 29: Police will create awareness among train passengers to ensure maximum use of the prepaid auto service at the city railway station.

The move has come in the wake of complaints regarding harassment of passengers of various long-distance trains by other vehicles engaged in the transportation from the railway station area.

Besides, a lot of passengers also complained against exorbitant fares charged by such private transport operators, especially during night.

Keeping in view such incidents, the police have sought assistance from the railway authorities. Moreover, at the traffic management committee meeting held last week, it was decided to publicise the prepaid auto service.

“We have already instructed the railway authorities to make regular announcements at platforms about the prepaid auto service available outside the station. This will be executed shortly,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjiv Arora.

Arora said that usually, the prepaid auto service was the most reliable source of transportation for the passengers arriving in city during odd hours. A passenger can get such facility as adequate protection is being provided at the two counters outside the station.

Besides, all details of the auto drivers have been kept, while immediate action can be taken in case of any exigency, Arora said.

The police introduced the service from Cuttack railway station in 2011. Such facility was the first to be introduced in the state.

However, due to lack of proper awareness and publicity, many passengers, especially who are coming from outside the state, remain ignorant of such facility.

“One of my relatives had to pay Rs 250 to cover a distance of 7km from Cuttack railway station to CDA last month. A lot of passengers from outside are forced to pay extra to travel to their respective destinations during night hours,” said Markatnagar resident Sweta Das.

Das said the police decision to put up posters regarding the service and make announcement would benefit the passengers to take advantage of such facility.

An official said efforts were also on to ensure that passengers did not face any kind of problems in the railway station area and there were plans to shortly introduce prepaid taxi service as well.

East Coast Railway authorities have been asked to provide necessary infrastructure, while steps are being taken to fix up route and rate chart for the proposed prepaid tax service from the railway station.