AUTO MENACE IN CHENNAI
I am an zealous traveler and I had a very nice and interesting moment when I landed at Chennai Central Railway Station. I lived in Chennai between 1981 and 1994. I always loved Chennai and was comfortable in Chennai as I made the travel mostly by Pallavan Bus. I find still the best and cheapest bus service is Pallavan who is rechristened as Managara Perundu. Do not read as Manaraga Perundu J
Coming to my wonderful and eventful experience with the automan in Chennai. I will narrate it in English.
I reached the Chennai Central in wee hours of a morning from
When I reached the entrance/exit point in Central Station, a bunch of auto drivers thronged on me. I selected one of them(do not say my selection is bad after reading this. I heard most of them are like this only)
When I was interviewed to join a Nationalised Bank, I was not asked these many questions. For a simple 15 minutes travel in an auto, I gave an interview to the auto driver. The interview contents are as follows.
Auto Driver : Where do you want to go sir?
Me : Triplicane
Auto Driver : Yes sir, we can go.
People have already told me that there is no meter functioning properly so you have to fix the hire charge before even having a look at the auto.
Me : whats the charge ?
Auto Driver : Where in Triplicane ?
Me : Near Star Theatre.
Auto driver : Yes sir, we can go.
Me : Whats the charge ?
Auto Driver : Drop or return sir?
(Will any one return in the wee hours we reach Chennai to reach our ultimate destination. Will any one return to Central immediately What sort of question you see)
Me : Drop.only.
Auto Driver : Yes sir, we can go.
Me : Whats the charge ?
Auto Driver : See the another twist. Are you alone or some more are there?
Me : Alone.
Auto driver : Yes sir, we can go
Me : Whats the Charge?
Auto Driver : See the next one. How many luggage sir?
Me : One suitcase only.
Auto Driver : This one or you have another one sir?
Me : This one only
Auto Driver : Yes sir, we can go
Me : Whats the Charge ?
Auto Driver : Is it Star theatre or near to that sir ?
Me : I already told near Star Theatre. Its just opposite to Star theatre only.
Auto Driver : Yes sir, we can go
Me : Whats the Charge ?
Auto Driver : Come on sir we can go (He is giving me a hope)
Me : What is the charge ?
Auto Driver : Give me just 150/- sir.
Me : 150 for star theatre. Its too much. Tell something reasonable.
Auto Driver : Petrol prices are high sir.
Me : Still it is higher.
Auto Driver : Ok sir, I will put the meter. You give meter rent + 30
Me : I do not believe this meter. Tell a reasonable amount.
Auto Driver : You yourself tell sir.
Me : will give 50 rupees.
Auto Driver : What sir, I am asking 150 and you are saying 50. is it justified.
So talking about reasonable rate is not justified.
Me : Leave it then.
Now the real colour of automan.
Auto Driver : Are you mad? Have you ever seen an auto.? Please go in the bus .
This is my good(!) experience with an auto driver.
After this, I just saw a police man directing trafic. I requested him to guide me to go to Triplicane. He told me not to speak to these drivers but stand in prepaid queue and go to place. I preferred to take a bus than an auto in Chennai(Once bitten Twice Shy)
