While authorities claim to have intensified their crackdown on school vans and autorickshaws transporting children in the backdrop of the tragic death of a Tambaram schoolgirl recently, eight-year-old Jayalakshmi of Vagaikulam in Madurai, was crushed to death Friday by a share auto, fuelling people's outrage against these services that continue to thrive despite their poor safety record.
While only 200 share autos and metered taxis (black colours) were issued permits by the transport department, over 10,000 Ape autos and several hundred Tata magic vans operate in the city as share vehicles, point out auto unions.
Many of these share autos often halt at bus stops to pick up passengers inconveniencing the buses they are meant for and holding up the rest of the traffic too, they note.
“Although the ‘Ape’ autos are permitted to carry only three passengers, they are always overloaded and carry five passengers and up to even 10 sometimes.
But they continue to have a free run,” regrets Mr J. Seshasayanam, state secretary of the AITUC - affiliated Madras Metro Auto Drivers’ Association.