Agartala,Janauary 29 (TIWN): Tripura transport minister Manik Dey every now and then issues stern warning against errant auto – rickshaw drivers if found breaking motor vehicle rules. But in reality, the warning is taking casually by CITU leaders and threatens the transport department officials who tries to enforce or books any auto rickshaw for violation of rules.

A CITU leader and All Tripura Auto rickshaw Union president Jiten Das recently went to Joint Transport Commissioner Office  here at Paribahan  Bhawan  and told the officer not to take any legal action against a booked auto rickshaw.   

According to transport department sources, on 21st January last, Amit Barman Roy, additional secretary of transport department stopped one auto rickshaw bearing    number – TR01C2819, overloaded with six passengers .  A woman passenger was found seating on right side of the driver.

The transport departement official asked the driver  to show the fare  chart which was  supposed to be displayed  at the back side of the driver.He brought out a folded sheet of paper showing the rate chart.When the passenger were asked to say the fare charged upon them  for transportation , they told Rs 13 was charged per head for tranportaion from Battala to Wood Mill at Barjala.As the auto driver has violated rules , Mr. Barman Roy wrote a letter to the JTC to take legal action. 

Reportedly on Tuesday last, Jiten went to the office of JTC and told not take any action against the autorickshaw and driver. He told that JTC have nothing to do in this matter and union would deal with the matter.

Transport department have to work according to certain  guidelines issued by the High Court of Tripura. The issues are taking extra passengers and fare. Taking extra passengers have been stopped to some extent  but taking point to point fare could not be enforced till date.

The high court directed to display fare chart at all passenger vehicles within 20 January but not followed. Even the state government is not making it clear what will  be the point to point per head fare. Meanwhile, the transport department has written to traffic SP and district transport offices to enforce the high court order.