Pune: A pre-paid autorickshaw booth at the city railway station , re-opened rcently to ensure train passengers are no longer fleeced, now risks closure because of operational difficulties . Keshav Kshirsagar, the president of the Bagtoy Rickshawaala Union , which has been operating the booth since July 27, said the regular auto drivers at the station caused many roadblocks for them and blamed the police and railway authorities for not providing support. "We cater to 500 to 600 passengers a day on average.
Other auto drivers, who aren't members, have been creating problems. They block the gate through which our autos approach the booth and also block the parking lane. Often, they go inside to the platforms and get passengers to their autos instead of letting them come to the booth," he told TOI.
Sharad Kumar, who came from Uttar Pradesh to Pune earlier this week, said he was charged Rs 450 by an auto driver to go to his friend's place in Camp. "The driver told me there was no pre-paid system at the Pune station and that neither Ola nor Uber cabs operated here," he said. Kshirsagar said they had sent a letter to rail authorities seeking permission to set up signages about the booth's location.
He added that authorities had promised police presence at the booth to deter troublemakers but no cop has be seen for many days. Ashutosh Dhakne, another regular commuter, said, "The booth's location is faulty, it should have been in front of the main gate." Ram Paul Bagpagga, public rela.
