THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: Finally, after several glitches, a prepaid autorickshaw counter at the Medical College Hospital (MCH) Junction here will soon become a reality. The City Corporation authorities said that the counter would be opened on November 17. The much-delayed system is being launched this month itself, so as to coincide with the first anniversary of the present City Corporation Council. The need for a prepaid autorickshaw counter near the Medical College Hospital was a long- standing one. The people who visit the hospital have been suffering at the hands of autorickshaw drivers here as the latter charged exorbitant amounts as fare from the travellers.
“At present, the drivers in the area charge as much as Rs 30 for a trip from Medical College Junction to the Regional Cancer Centre, which is located just a kilometre away. People who are often in a hurry to reach the hospitals will not waste their time haggling with the drivers. This problem will be resolved once the prepaid autorickshaw counter comes into existence,” said G S Sreekumar, the councillor of Medical College ward.
Over 50 autorickshaws, which service from the MCH Junction, have been made part of the project. The rickshaws that come from other parts of the city too have to charge the fare according to the tariff of the prepaid counter, while accepting a trip from the MCH Junction, said Medical College Circle Inspector Pramod Kumar.
The launch of the prepaid counter, which was initially scheduled for September 19, had to be postponed owing to an unexpected hartal observed on the day in protest against the fuel price rise. However, the launch was delayed again as the City Corporation authorities could not convene a meeting of the Traffic Advisory Committee to decide on the date. The transfer of the Circle Inspector attached to the Medical College police station, who was in charge of the execution of the system, also added to the delay.
It was in August that a meeting of the Traffic Advisory Committee held in the Mayor’s chamber decided to launch a prepaid autorickshaw counter at MCH following mounting complaints from the public. It was also decided in the meeting to launch prepaid counters at Pettah railway station, Central Bus Station, Thampanoor and Fort, the steps for which are underway.
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