Bangalore Gets Call an Auto Service

Nycil George, Jun 12, 2007 1715 hrs IST

Passengers can now book autos by calling or SMSing an IVRS number at 98441 12233. 'Easy Autos' can also be booked via www.easyauto.in.

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Come Friday, residents of Bangalore will have some respite from 'hunting' for auto rickshaws, thanks to Easy Auto, a scheme endorsed by the city police and RTOs.

With this pilot project in place, passengers can book autos by calling or SMSing an IVRS number at 98441 12233. The 'easy autos' can be booked through www.easyauto.in as well.
Typically, an estimated 20 to 30 minutes of commuter time goes in getting a willing auto to take him/her to the required destination. On top of this, there is nothing that really stops auto rickshaws from refusing passengers.

The other challenges faced by commuters are double meter and one-and-a-half meter. Despite reduced fuel costs, auto rickshaw drivers refuse to ply to a destination that is frequented several times unless commuters are willing to shell-out 'extra' charges. And the 'extra' almost always works out to up to two times the meter.

Under the new scheme, passengers will be categorized either as registered (those entitled to door-to-door service) or casual (those who have to hire autos from EA stands). The plan is to have about 1,500 such stands in the city.

For the Easy Auto service, a call center will be instituted for the purpose of co-ordination between the passenger and the auto finding process.

Reportedly, about 500 auto drivers have already enrolled for the service, and are eligible to get benefits like insurance cover, etc.

USER COMMENTS

Just visited their website. Looks like their IVR partner is no longer with them - so 984411223 will not work. Other contacts are not sure of the tarriff details. Registration fees is already up from Rs.75 to Rs.90. Add another Rs. 3 to the Auto driver as service charge. The per KM Rate seems to be Rs. 12/- (according to the person who responded and he was not sure) so we have a double charge already. Registered members have blogged saying it is a waste of money and wait time for autos is indefinite with no reason specified. Auto drivers are polite - in saying that they have to go empty so pay extra. Discovered only so much for now.

by Finn L, Bangalore, on Dec 18, 2007 11:59 AM, Report abuse Reply

BRILLIANT SCHEME!!!...LOOKING FORWARD TO IT

by KARTHIK, BANGALORE, on Jul 07, 2007 11:36 PM, Report abuse Reply

I think its a good idea. Having said that, I'd also like to add that I have my own doubts whether this would be implemented effectively. Is this a serious effort in addressing the commuters' woes, or just another exercise in futility whose only purpose is to get some cheap publicity for the hon'ble minister. Has the scheme been thought through? Has enough effort gone into designing the system? Consider this: apart from a few phone no.s, web-links, and the word blackberry, what does the commuter really know of the system? Clearly not much effort has been put into consumer education. We have a link to a web-site: www.easyauto.in. Unfortunately, the web-site does not even have a tariff chart. As a commuter I know the distances I travel; I could definitely use the tariff chart to calculate the fair charges of an auto's service. There are feedback forms in the auto. But isn't that s'posed to be the norm in the 'normal' autos as well? How does the grievance redressal process work? Do I have to file an FIR? What kind of penalties are imposed? Do I have to appear in a court? Do I need witnesses to back my story? And we need to book an auto half an hour before travel? Does this half hour include the possible 10 minutes that might be attributed to network-congestion? And what happens if I'm left waiting even after the half-hour? Seriously, is there *ANY* parameter to measure the quality of service? And if not, how is this really different from what the commuter endures every day? Just that it costs another 75/- to register and uses technology? I'd like to ask again: have the authorities really put any thought in designing the system, or are they counting on the magic wand of technology? Technology may aid to speed up things, or to do more work within the same time. However, at the end of the day, technology is just an enabler.

by Rohan, Bangalore, on Jun 19, 2007 02:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

Really a excellent job for public.

by Manjula, Spain, Madrid, on Jun 14, 2007 07:15 PM, Report abuse Reply

This is an excellent scheme and I'm really looking forward to it

by SUPREETHA, BANGALORE, on Jun 13, 2007 10:42 AM, Report abuse Reply

Its sounds nice and hope can be of great help. Apart of this ,Pls take into consideration the noise these autos are making .It is really difficult to travell in autos because of the ear deefening sounds they make.It will be highly appriciable if something can be done in this regards also.

by S/W Eng, Banglore, on Jun 13, 2007 10:36 AM, Report abuse Reply

Excellent Concept to start with, hope it would spread in other metros.

by AutoGuy, Mumbai, on Jun 13, 2007 09:39 AM, Report abuse Reply

Yes, this is a cool feature and easy to get auto using Easy Auto See more detail at http://meninweb.blogspot.com/ or direct page at http://meninweb.blogspot.com/2007/06/sms-or-call-to-get-auto-in-bangalore.html

by meninweb, Bangalore, on Jun 13, 2007 09:24 AM, Report abuse Reply