more-in A system of passenger grievance cards to enable the public to report complaints about overcharging or other misdemeanour by autorickshaw drivers was launched on Monday. An estimated one lakh cards will be distributed by the Transport Department at scooter stands, bus terminals, railway stations, markets and other vantage points. Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, who launched the grievance cards in the presence of A.S. Sivakumar, Transport Commissioner, urged the Transport Department to take cognisance of complaints of all nature received from passengers, and take action on merits of each case. The bi-lingual cards (Tamil and English) list fares for a range of distances and carry helpline numbers of the police control room (100 or 1031) and traffic toll free line (1073). The boxes to tick are for overcharging, refusal to ply on meter or refusal to ply at all and misbehaviour. All these cards are addressed to the Transport Commissioner at his office in Mudaliarpet. She sought the creation of a data bank of all such complaints to identify repeat violators. The Transport Commissioner is to summon the offender/owner and seek an explanation. A third time violator risks suspension of licence. Sponsors sought Ms. Bedi called for sponsors of these cards, which are priced at 25 paise as a goodwill gesture of the Postal Department. Traders associations can sponsor the costs and provide the cards to customers or tourists. The card can be posted, scanned, mailed or given to nearest police, who will make an entry of it before handing over the complaint to Transport Officer or even take action at the level of the police station, Ms. Bedi said. The Transport Department said the passenger grievance cards would help people easily register complaints against fleecing by autorickshaw drivers and register other grievances. Distributed free Deputy Inspector-General of Police V.J. Chandran told presspersons that the prepaid card would be distributed free by the Transport Department with the assistance of the traffic police at bus stands, railway stations and important public places. Mr. Chandran said that the card would have the approved fare for the distance travelled. Commuters could post complaints on autorickshaw drivers refusing to go by the meter/meter not working, excess fare, refusal to ply and misbehaviour. As many as 1 lakh prepaid cards had been readied by the Postal Department. The cards could be handed over to the nearest police station or the Transport Department. The Transport Department would take action against the errant driver based on the complaint. The department would revoke the licence of the driver if he was involved for the third time. Commuters could post their complaints on overcharging by autorickshaw drivers and other grievances to the helpline numbers printed on the cards. Mr. Sivakumar and Apoorva Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police (Law and Order), participated.

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