Coimbatore enjoys the reputation of being a warm and friendly city. However, it is also known for its notorious auto drivers who fleece their customers. An auto ride from the Singanallur bus stand to Siruthuli office (after bargaining) costs not less than Rs. 60. However, the same distance according to meter fare will cost little less than half, Rs. 27.

This is just one example of how passengers who chose to use auto rickshaws are taken advantage of. At a time while auto drivers fleece their passengers, there is a group of auto drivers who charge their passengers only the meter fare. They are all part of the Kovai Mavattam Meter Auto Nanbargal Sangam.

This association of auto rickshaw drivers came into being last year and ever since the members of this group, who own their own auto rickshaws continue to charge their passengers strictly by the meter. There are currently about 68 auto rickshaw drivers as members and each of their vehicles has a signage that reads that their auto runs on meter.

They charge a minimum of Rs. 25 for 1.8 km and Rs. 12 for every additional km. Nothing additional is charged for extra luggage that the passengers carry. Moreover, this is the tariff that is applicable during the night time too.

Ganapathi R who owns an auto rickshaw justifies that auto drivers charge passengers a high price as they (auto drivers) have to make ends meet. He explains to us that all auto drivers are a part of an auto stand in one particular area. By rule, they have to have their autos parked in a line and this order is prefixed. Whenever a passenger requires an auto rickshaw, the auto that stands ahead is given the opportunity to either entertain or decline the request to take the passenger to his or her destination.

A majority of times the auto driver quotes a high price. The passenger negotiates and if it does not work out no other auto from the same stand can take that passenger to his or her destination.

However, the case with passenger-friendly Kovai Mavattam Meter Auto Nanbargal Sangam is very different. All of their 68 autos are in demand during weekdays and on weekends too. “Sometimes we have passengers who reschedule their travel plan because our autos are unavailable,” P. Shivkumar, Treasurer and member of Kovai Mavattam Meter Auto Nanbargal Sangam, says.

He shares with us that he too used to charge his passengers mercilessly prior to becoming a part of the Sangam. “The money that I earned this way somehow did not stay with me. It was very difficult to manage my daily expenses then. However, things are very different now. I am contented that I am charging all my passengers a fair price for the services that I am rendering and I can make ends meet,” Shivkumar says.

On an average the members who are a part of the Kovai Mavattam Meter Auto Nanbargal Sangam earn anywhere between Rs. 1,000 to 1,200 by working eight-hours a day, on a daily basis. These autos that run on meter can be pre-booked from source to destination on 75987-99400.