Auto loot at Airport set to end
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, November 06, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=20101106201011062025041826c8a3c76)
An auto service managed by non-profit organisation Nirmal Foundation is set to give rickshawallahs’ who charge at will to transport people from the airport a run for their money.
In just two weeks, G-Auto will start ferrying fliers from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport by charging fares fixed by the RTO.
Apart from the meter-based fare and a service fee, G-Autos will not demand a single rupee more — a practice completely unknown to existing auto drivers at the airport.
Interestingly, Nirmal Foundation has signed an MoU with the airport authority for starting this facility, named Airport Express Service. The organisation claims this is the first time such an agreement has been finalised in the country.
“G-Autos will be given a separate stand outside the airport,” the director of the organisation, Nirmal Kumar, said. “At airports across the country, there are privately-managed taxi stands.
However, there are no such auto stands.”
As part of the agreement, Nirmal Foundation will pay a fee to the airport authority. “There will be 25 G-Autos at the airport, and an equal number will be kept on standby in case there is a deluge of passengers arriving in the city,” he said.
PICK-UP FACILITY
A striking feature of this facility is that you can ask Airport Express Service to pick up your friend or relative from the airport. All you have to do is call its helpline on 9274444444, and provide details like name of your friend/relative and his/her time of arrival. A G-Auto driver will then stand near the exit holding a banner mentioning the person’s name.
Another interesting thing is that G-Auto drivers will be well-mannered and, if required, they will converse in English. Kumar said that drivers had been taught the language keeping in mind NRIs and foreigners.
G-Autos to provide bill to passengers
At the end of the journey, these autowallahs will also provide a bill to passengers. This is a departure from the practice followed by existing autowallahs, who refuse to travel by meter and quote their own rates.
“If a passenger is not satisfied with the service, he/she can write down the grievance in a complaint book that will be kept inside every G-Auto,” Kumar said. “If a case of overcharging is brought to our notice, we will blacklist that auto driver.”
Apart from the 25 autos that will be stationed at the airport, Nirmal Foundation also plans to involve drivers part of its Any Time Rickshaw (ATR) service. About 1,500 drivers are associated with this facility.
Kumar thanked airport officials and senior police officers for supporting Airport Express Service. “The director of Ahmedabad airport, Anuj Agrawal, and senior officer Mohan Jha have appreciated our initiative,” he said.
Nirmal Foundation also plans to start a similar facility at the airport in Vadodara.
Posted On Saturday, November 06, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=20101106201011062025041826c8a3c76)
An auto service managed by non-profit organisation Nirmal Foundation is set to give rickshawallahs’ who charge at will to transport people from the airport a run for their money.
In just two weeks, G-Auto will start ferrying fliers from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport by charging fares fixed by the RTO.
Apart from the meter-based fare and a service fee, G-Autos will not demand a single rupee more — a practice completely unknown to existing auto drivers at the airport.
Interestingly, Nirmal Foundation has signed an MoU with the airport authority for starting this facility, named Airport Express Service. The organisation claims this is the first time such an agreement has been finalised in the country.
“G-Autos will be given a separate stand outside the airport,” the director of the organisation, Nirmal Kumar, said. “At airports across the country, there are privately-managed taxi stands.
However, there are no such auto stands.”
As part of the agreement, Nirmal Foundation will pay a fee to the airport authority. “There will be 25 G-Autos at the airport, and an equal number will be kept on standby in case there is a deluge of passengers arriving in the city,” he said.
PICK-UP FACILITY
A striking feature of this facility is that you can ask Airport Express Service to pick up your friend or relative from the airport. All you have to do is call its helpline on 9274444444, and provide details like name of your friend/relative and his/her time of arrival. A G-Auto driver will then stand near the exit holding a banner mentioning the person’s name.
Another interesting thing is that G-Auto drivers will be well-mannered and, if required, they will converse in English. Kumar said that drivers had been taught the language keeping in mind NRIs and foreigners.
G-Autos to provide bill to passengers
At the end of the journey, these autowallahs will also provide a bill to passengers. This is a departure from the practice followed by existing autowallahs, who refuse to travel by meter and quote their own rates.
“If a passenger is not satisfied with the service, he/she can write down the grievance in a complaint book that will be kept inside every G-Auto,” Kumar said. “If a case of overcharging is brought to our notice, we will blacklist that auto driver.”
Apart from the 25 autos that will be stationed at the airport, Nirmal Foundation also plans to involve drivers part of its Any Time Rickshaw (ATR) service. About 1,500 drivers are associated with this facility.
Kumar thanked airport officials and senior police officers for supporting Airport Express Service. “The director of Ahmedabad airport, Anuj Agrawal, and senior officer Mohan Jha have appreciated our initiative,” he said.
Nirmal Foundation also plans to start a similar facility at the airport in Vadodara.
