MCH: More wait for prepaid autos

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Visitors to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital (MCH) are mostly weak, either physically or financially. The following fact would make them still weaker - the inauguration of the prepaid autorickshaw counter, which was scheduled during September-end, has been shelved indefinitely. That means, the torture by rickshaw drivers would continue.   The City Corporation authorities had decided to open a new prepaid autorickshaw system at the place, the inauguration of which was scheduled last month. However, the project got shelved without notice. Now, there is not even an autorickshaw to be sighted, let alone a prepaid autorickshaw counter, at the proposed piece of land near the Sree Vinayaka Temple at the hospital junction.   On enquiry, City Express learned that it was not any legal impediment, but the lack of time of the authorities that was unnecessarily delaying the much-awaited facility.   According to a senior officer attached with the City Traffic Police, it was the lack of interest on the part of the Corporation authorities that was delaying the project. ‘’We have done all the groundwork that was vested upon us by the authorities. But now, the authorities, including the Mayor and the MLA, have no time to spare for the inauguration,’’ he said.   The Traffic Officials had taken all the necessary steps, including preparing a list of rickshaw drivers to be included in the new system, finalising the fare rates by holding talks with the representatives of various motor workers unions and also appointing an officer of the department for issuing coupons at the counter. This was following the Traffic Advisory Committee chaired by City Corporation Mayor K Chandrika deciding to start the prepaid counter in a meeting convened in the last week of August, the officer added.   Meanwhile, the Mayor attributed the delay in realising the project to the state-wide hartal called by the Left parties in protest against the fuel price rise on September 19.   ‘’The inauguration was scheduled for September 19 and the plan was shattered by the unexpected hartal. Sadly, we could not convene a meeting of the Traffic Advisory Committee following this date as I was busy with my routine engagements,’’ she said.   The Mayor also said that the Corporation was planning to hold the inauguration in the month of November as it would coincide with the first anniversary of the present Corporation Council.   Having said so, one thing is certain, that the commuters who hire autorickshaws from the area are destined to suffer harassment and humiliation at the hands of drivers for some more weeks.   At present, there is only one prepaid autorickshaw stand functioning in the city - on Central railway station premises.