Cops interact with auto drivers, passengers
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Kolkata: Auto rickshaw operators at Ultadanga experienced a different Sunday morning as the Ultadanga Traffic Guard conducted a sensitisation drive. The drive highlighted various safety parameters and good behaviour that operators should follow.
The highlight, however, was the police interaction with passengers, taking feedback and relating it to auto drivers on the spot. Cops also shared contact numbers for passengers to report any excesses by the drivers. "We stopped autos carrying passengers and then carried out the drive," said OC Indranath Mukherjee.
Ultadanga auto routes have been in the news for the wrong reasons in the past, contributing to lane cutting, traffic signal jumping, and behaving rashly with commuters.
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"We tried to impart a lesson on good driving, sticking to fares, and not taking extra passengers. We heard their issues and have assured them of all help. We have told them there will be no sparing if they are found violating traffic rules. We kept the programme on the road so that commuters can witness what we are expecting from auto drivers," said an Ultadanga guard official.
Ultadanga has witnessed auto hooliganism repeatedly, the unions going on splash strikes whenever action has been initiated against them by both Kolkata police and Bidhannagar police.
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"All the auto union members believe that they can be above the law. Each time, we raise questions on irrational routes and fares, they stop services and behave rudely with us. Each time the cops suggest something, they stop operations. Is this how they plan to service the city? This was the feedback I gave cops," said Swati Banerjee, who was one of the multiple passengers who responded to cop queries at Ultadanga crossing on the nature of services being provided.
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