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MP to discuss pre-paid auto at Mangaluru railway stations, July 22


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 8,2017: Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel calling for a joint meeting of all stakeholders like officials from the RTO, police, Southern Railway and members from auto drivers’ union representatives on July 22.  Details for having pre-paid auto counters at both the railway stations - Mangaluru Central and Junction will be taken up.


 nalinkumarkateel


The meeting has been planned to discuss the issue threadbare and sort out the issue that is seen as a major setback to the growing city as most of the passengers from various parts of the nation, who arrive at both stations, complain about overcharging by auto-rickshaws.

The MP said the reputation of Mangaluru city is at stake just because of few auto-rickshaw drivers charging exorbitantly from passengers. Hence, Kateel said, the issue needs to be sorted out by making pre-paid auto counters at both railway stations functional effectively.


At a review meeting on Thursday, officials of the Southern Railway pointed out the functioning of auto-rickshaw pre-paid counters not possible without the presence of policemen. Responding to the issue, the MP said that he will discuss the issue at the meeting with all stakeholders. "I have received several complaints from general public about auto-rickshaws charging exorbitantly at Mangaluru City Central and Junction railway stations. While passengers are forced to pay more for their short journeys from those railway stations, the issue brings bad reputation to the city. Hence, we need to sort out the issue by making pre-paid auto counters functional at both railway stations," Kateel said.

Earlier, Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike president Hanumanth Kamath suggested that the maintenance of pre-paid auto counters at both railway stations should be handed over to police. "It is very unfortunate that Mangaluru city lacks pre-paid auto counters even at major places like railway stations. There are possibilities of passengers being cheated even after the opening of pre-paid counters. Hence, it should be brought directly under the control of police department," Kamath said.