Police make sure you pay as per meter

KOCHI: The autorickshaw drivers who once fleeced passengers, thanks to Kochi shadow police and traffic police, have now started to charge fare as per the meter reading. The police have started to keep a tab on the autorickshaw drivers to see if they are charging as per the meter reading.About 800 autorickshaw drivers were booked by the police in the last month itself for flouting law and not using meters. Shadow police had been maintaining strict vigil on those who charged more than the meter reading. “The shadow police roams around the city all the time and they also travel in autorickshaws in different areas. There is now a fear among autorickshaw drivers that they can be booked any time if found guilty,” a police official said. He also said that various resident association members had lauded the drive against autorickshaw drivers.Along with the shadow police, the traffic police have also intensified their drive against the autorickshaw drivers. “We have booked more the 500 autorickshaw  drivers in the last one week. The drive will continue until all the autorickshaw drivers start using meters. The checking was conducted in 25 traffic sectors of the city. We have deployed 23 officers to carry out checking on a regular basis. The public can also register complaints with the police if they are cheated,” Traffic Commissioner Muhammad Rafique said.However, more action is needed to make use of meters absolute. Another problem is that some of the autorickshaws that ply in the city are from the suburbs and do not have city permits.  “Autorickshaws from Muvattupuzha, Aluva and Perumbavoor operate in the city. Action will be taken against these autos if they operate without permit,” a police official said.