Thane: Commuters in Thane city will soon benefit from a hassle-free transit system, as the state government is set to approve a proposal for prepaid auto-rickshaws. The move aims to put an end to recurring disputes over fares, ride refusals, and overcharging by auto-rickshaw drivers.
The announcement was made by local MLA Sanjay Kelkar following a high-level joint meeting held at the Government Rest House in Thane. The meeting was convened after Kelkar led an inspection tour of the congested Thane railway station area alongside traffic police and Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials to evaluate local traffic bottlenecks.
"By Monday, the government is expected to approve the prepaid auto-rickshaw proposal, and these vehicles will soon hit the roads in Thane city," stated MLA Sanjay Kelkar while addressing the media. "This initiative will eliminate arguments between commuters and auto-rickshaw drivers, offering passengers a seamless and secure service. After alighting at the station, passengers will fix and pay their fare in advance before a rickshaw is assigned. Consequently, commuters will no longer need to haggle over rates, and it will effectively curb arbitrary pricing, fare refusals, and disputes over destinations."
To enforce discipline and deter misbehavior around the railway station area, the administration is also stepping up physical oversight. "To stop the high-handedness and misbehavior of certain rickshaw drivers around Thane station, two RTO officers will be deployed during the peak morning and evening hours for four hours each," Kelkar added. "This will help curb driver misconduct and ensure smooth traffic flow."
Internal traffic issues across other major nodes in the city were also addressed during the session. "Traffic issues in areas like Wagle Estate, Kopri, and Indira Nagar were discussed, and officials outlined various remedial measures," noted Kelkar. "To resolve internal traffic congestion, a permanent traffic police presence will be arranged at busy intersections moving forward."
The meeting was attended by key administrative officers and representatives, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pankaj Shirsat, Regional Transport Officer Hemangini Patil, and former municipal councillors Bharat Chavan, Amit Saraiya, and Anita Yadav, alongside Jayendra Koli and Vishal Wagh.
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