A regulatory authority for three-wheelers, a must

The three-wheelers, popularly known as trishaws or tuk-tuks, are ubiquitous not only in the heart of the capital city, but also in far-flung corners of the country.

Since their entry to the local market following the open market economy in 1977, three-wheeler taxis became exceedingly popular among the urban as well as the rural masses due to their relatively cheaper costs.

Low fuel consumption and affordable maintenance costs created a big demand for these Indian three-wheelers. Thereafter, similar brands from China also penetrated the local market and we now have petrol and diesel-run three-wheelers. Though they are randomly purchased for personal use, three-wheelers are mostly operated as taxis - a popular mode of public transport.

Due to their low operational costs, the three-wheelers in next to no time displaced the age-old Morris Minor cars, the popular taxis of years gone by. Today three-wheelers lined up at junctions anticipating hires are a common sight.

Moreover, three-wheelers are a boon to people across the length and breadth of the country, especially for those who don't have their own mode of transport.

Apart from rushing a critical patient to a nearby hospital to the transportation of crops to markets, three-wheelers have proved to be a multi-purpose vehicle that is closer to the hearts of the masses.

On the other hand, three-wheelers have been often used by various underworld gangs for robberies, murders, prostitution and other despicable acts.

Hence, the police were constrained to get three-wheeler owners to register their vehicles with the closest police station in the areas in which they operate. This resulted in most such vehicles displaying their police area and code number, apart from their registration numbers given by the Department of Motor Traffic.

Three-wheel drivers are notorious for reckless driving, ignoring traffic rules and the Highway Code. They have been a bugbear for law-abiding drivers and pose a serious threat to the lives of other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Nevertheless, three-wheelers have been the most sought after vehicle for people's day-to-day lives.

The introduction of taxi meters has made three-wheelers even more popular, not only among the middle class but also among the poor. Although most trishaw drivers and operators showed initial resistance to taxi meters, the 'metered taxis' are now in bigger demand.

Prior to the introduction of taxi meters, unscrupulous drivers who operated at 'three-wheeler stands' in key junctions exploited the public by quoting exorbitant fares, mainly from non-frequent travellers. These errant taxi drivers targeted only a couple of hires, quoting fares in keeping with the appearance of customers.

Being acutely aware how much an intended journey would cost and the 'unique skills' of three-wheeler drivers to take customers to their destinations in double quick time, avoiding heavy traffic, more and more people now go for this popular mode of transport. The introduction of meters for three-wheelers also attracted new customers who had previously used public transport for their short distance travel.

However, only a handful of people who patronise three-wheelers regularly know that the rates of metered taxis vary from one vehicle to another. Though the meters in three-wheelers look similar and the cost of the first kilometre is Rs. 50 at present, they adopt different rates from the second kilometre.

Depending on the choice of three-wheeler owners at the time of installing meters, the charge from the second kilometre on metered taxis varies from Rs. 30 to Rs. 45. Most passengers are unaware of the tariffs of the meters when they board these three-wheelers.

Only a handful of importers and their agents install meters in three-wheelers. At the time the meter is installed, the owner or the driver of the vehicle has the option of deciding on the rate that he intends to charge. The taxi meter is programmed accordingly. Whether it could be tampered is anybody's guess. A holding charge, when in heavy traffic or parking between journeys, is also added to the final fare.

Hence, the fare for the same distance differs significantly and could be almost double for short distance travel. According to regular travellers, some three-wheeler drivers impose an additional fare at night. Though levying an additional charge at night is understandable, passengers are kept in the dark on what basis it is calculated.

Hence, it's time the authorities regularise the operations of three-wheeler taxis. In the event they are permitted to apply different fare structures - eg. Rs. 30, 32, 35, 40, 42 or 45 from the second kilometre, an easy method of identification should be introduced, preferably by a colour code for the vehicle. A mechanism of this nature would be most welcomed for passengers to decide on the three-wheeler of their choice.

In the absence of a governing body or a controlling authority to regulate three-wheeler taxi operations, the drivers are at liberty to exploit the public to their hearts' desire. An institution or a regulatory body, where passengers could lodge complaints against three-wheeler drivers who literally take people for a ride, is a pressing need.

The same goes for four-wheel taxis, mainly small hatchback taxi cars which also have similar meters, but operate on a different fare structure. Hence, the exploitation of passengers who use these taxis should be stopped forthwith.

The Government should take steps immediately to set up a regulatory body for three-wheel and four-wheel taxi operators. The fare structures should be clearly displayed on taxis and any subsequent increase should be approved by that regulatory body.

We propose that a structure similar to the private passenger transport authority be introduced as the need of the hour. This would not only regularise taxi fares, but also discipline three-wheeler drivers who could even be provided uniforms for easy identification, like private bus drivers and conductors.

An organised mechanism would undoubtedly safeguard the interests of three-wheeler passengers and thereby protect their interests. Different fare structures could be permitted depending on the area in which they operate - hilly or flat in keeping with the fuel consumption. At present three-wheeler passengers do not have a regulatory body to lodge complaints other than bandy words with taxi drivers or seek police assistance as a last resort. Hence, the setting up of a regulatory authority for taxis is a sine qua non.