AGARTALA, Sep 22 (TIWN): CPI-M backed unruly auto drivers once again displaying their ugly colours after few days of the point-to-point auto fare enforcement by Transport Dept after dozen of complaints were lodged by the passengers. Although total 52 auto drivers have been suspended for extracting extra fare from passengers, but shockingly after few days of so called ‘enforcement’, the situation again back to square one. Attitude of the drivers seems never changed till the state govt. doesn’t care to take actions seriously. The matter has come to limelight once again when bundles of complaints started to gather from passenger victims. Being the Chairman of CITU himself Minister Manik Dey remained numb and shy not to utter any word against the rougue auto-drivers over excess auto fares. Reportedly on September 14, in total of 52 auto drivers were suspended for 3 months and their licenses had also been seized basing on the complaints gathered in last 1 month which were submitted to the Dept. by common people against the auto drivers. Then it was decided that these following auto drivers would not be allowed anyhow to drive at least 3 months on road.But unfortunately, maximum auto drivers belonging to CITU, which is a CPI-M’s Trade Union, so with political power they tend again to rob passengers. It seems in Tripura, goons are enriched everyday by CPI-M, rogue auto-drivers continue their coercion by flexing muscles.

Openly Joint Transport Commissioner himself had announced that any passenger can complain against any auto driver, with the vehicle numbers, to his office (Phone Numb: 0381-2324601) via phone or going to the office, - also it was also promised that the name of the passengers (complainers) will be hidden in anyway.

But presently, when any passenger ask the drivers about point-to-point auto fares, they find that point-to-point auto fare would not be maintained anyhow as CITU have given them full approval to do anything they wish.

95% auto drivers of the state are in control of CITU. So question arises, being the Chairman himself how Transport Minister remains calm? However, Ministers here know very well how to control both sides, whether they are CITU member or a passengers.

2 months have been passed when the state govt. had announced the point-to-point fare, but still Tripura Govt. has failed to bring a control over the situation. If CITU leaders enforces a simple announcement to the drivers regarding fare, the matter would be solved. But it’s clear that nothing has been done so far and as a result the auto drivers can gather such courage for extra-fare, even after 52 auto drivers had been suspended for 3 months.

According to the passengers state govt. has willingly created this chaos so that the crisis prevails in the state. Otherwise, why state govt. is not taking a simple step by directly instructing the auto drivers about the protocols regarding auto fare ?

On the other hand on last wednesday among the autos, which had been identifies, state govt. has already sent notices to 6 of them and decision was taken to expelled them from the route. Earlier, on Tuesday in total 12 autos had been expelled from route for 1 month. According to the State Transport Dept. in total against 100 autos complaint have been lodged and all of them have been given show-cause notice by Transport Dept.

Again, on Wednesday in total 3 autos had been detained for whole day by the traffic police in allegation of demanding extra-fare from passengers, but at the evening they had been released, whereas it was the duty of the traffic to hand over the autos to the transport dept. instead of doing a long whole-day drama.

Thus it’s to be mentioned that state govt. is playing a ‘double role’ to save the vote banks and trying the make both sides happy, but this attitude of govt. is just creating crisis within the state which affects everyday normal lives here in state Tripura.