From next yr,just ring call centre to get auto at doorstep

In a few months,auto-rickshaws too will be just a call away and at no extra cost.

In a few months,auto-rickshaws too will be just a call away and at no extra cost. The Delhi Transport department is finalising details of its auto-on-demand project and has awarded the contract for supplying the Global Positioning System (GPS) devices to be installed in the autos.

By early next year,the Transport department hopes to set up a control room and call centre that will direct autos in the city,just like any radio taxi service. When the auto fare hike was being planned,we had decided to put in place a smart auto service. For this,GPS devices will be installed in autos and the three-wheelers will also be connected to the control room through a two-way communication system, said R K Verma,Principal Secretary and Transport Commissioner.

The scheme is expected to bring in more business for auto drivers as it will help them connect to commuters through the nodal call centre. Autos in a certain area will be able to connect to commuters in the same or nearby locations and will not have to roam around in search of commuters,said officials in the Transport department.

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The control room will have a large screen and over 20 monitors that will show the availability of autos and also keep track of their status through the two-way communication system confirming the auto availability. The call centre,meanwhile,will take calls from commuters and forward them to vacant autos. We are expecting over 1.5 lakh calls per day, Verma added.

So far there have been constant complaints of overcharging by auto drivers who otherwise take longer routes while plying by the meter. The new system is expected to fix these loopholes as every journey will be monitored by the control room and there will be a record of each trip. Hence,commuters can lodge complaints if a longer route is taken and auto drivers can be penalised. Verma said commuters will also be able to request for the shortest route between two points,which will be sent to them via SMS.

However,though the initiative is partially funded by the government,the GPS devices will have to be installed by the auto drivers who will also have to dish out a monthly maintenance fee of between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500. The fare hike factored in the expenses that drivers will incur in installing GPS devices and we decided to increase the fare to Rs 6.5 per km instead of Rs 6 per km. The additional 50 paise per km was for the auto drivers to make extra money to be able to pay for the new system, Verma added.

However,Federation of All Delhi Auto and Taxi Union president Kishan Verma said,Autos are open-door vehicles and so there is always a fear of the devices getting stolen. Also the device is expensive and it will be difficult for auto drivers to shell out the amount for installing them and paying the monthly fee.

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