Agartala, Dec 4 (TIWN): Defying the High Court’s order, a section of ruthless auto-rickshaw drivers are still continuing to pick the pockets of regular passengers by charging additional fares with the support of CITU led by Melarmath.

Somerita Chakraborty, a student of Tripura (Central) University alleged that a vast number of auto drivers still carry 4-5 passengers at a time instead of carrying 3 (3+1) passengers showing thumb to traffic police, concerned department maintaining silence over the issue. She also alleged that putting the regular passengers, students into pressure, many of the auto-rickshaw drivers are charging high fare from the passengers as per their own desire.

Satyabrata Saha (52), a daily wage labourer of Kathaltali area located at a distance of around 6 km from Agartala alleged that due to lack of sufficient transport connectivity in Agartala-Kathaltali route, the auto drivers often force me to pay Rs. 20 to 25 after 9 pm instead of normal fare Rs. 10-15. The auto fare goes high with the rise of night, he said. “I am bound to travel without launching protest against those auto drivers due to insufficient vehicles in the route. Otherwise after completion of my work, I will have to go by foot at every night.” To curtail this situation, the concerned authority should add more vehicles in service till 12 at night, Saha added.

In a judgment delivered by the High Court (HC) of Tripura, the auto rickshaws were directed to take only 3 (3+1) passengers at a time. Though the order issued by HC is being partially followed on the streets of Agartala but along with that the fare has also been doubled. Furthermore, the HC had also directed the state government to install meters in the auto rickshaws apart from running Town Buses from 6 am to 10 pm covering all the routes within the capital city. Nevertheless, the state government has shown no positive response to the instructions of the HC, till today.

On being asked, an official from traffic police department over telephone said, “We have not received any such complaints from the passengers recently. However, I shall look into the matter and shall also inform to my higher authority soon.”