CHENNAI: For those living on the city's fringes, daily commute is a cumbersome, costly affair. Public transport solutions are far and few between and it is the proverbial autorickshaw that rules the roost.
"People in the city are blessed with the Metro Rail. Are the people living outside city limits cursed?" asks Muthuvel, a long-time resident of Tambaram, understandably angry at the travails of daily travel in the suburbs.
Days of suffering due to inappropriate transport is still a hot topic in the local body election in fringe areas like Madambakkam, Selaiyur and Sembakkam. Autorickshaws are the only option available to the people here, claims K Balu, president of SKGM Welfare Association.
With frequent hikes in fuel prices, even autos are not a viable transport for the ‘aam admi’. Residents of Madambakkam and other neighbourhoods are ready to pay twice the MTC ticket price for share autos to reach Camp Road or Rajakilpakkam junction, says Colonel Sundar, a retired Armyman.
Long ago, steps were taken to approve share autos to ply in the area during peak hours to ease the congestion in buses. Following stiff opposition by auto drivers in the local stand, the plans didn’t work, he said.
"Unlike in the city, the nearest bus route in the suburbs is at least a kilometre away from residential localities and we totally depend on public transport," says Narayanan, a senior citizen. Notwithstanding the price rise and the currency devaluation, people in the suburbs would not think twice before shelling out Rs 15 to reach Camp Road from Vengaivasal or Madambakkam, all for a smoother ride, he says.� Similar issues exist in parts of Chitlapakkam and Gowriwakkam areas too where an auto driver demands at least Rs 50 to cover a distance of two kilometres from Hanuman Temple off the Chitlapakkam Main Road to Camp Road.
The argument from the other side too appears to hold some water.� Autorickshaw drivers want fares to be based on the distance, road conditions (often appalling in suburbs) and fuel price. "Driving an auto in the suburban road conditions is a tough task, the repair bills keep rising every week," says Kumaran, an auto driver in the locality.
However, the residential associations in the locality blame the auto drivers for the hostile situation when it comes to share auto business, claims Sridhar. Most auto drivers are busy during the peak hours in mornings and evenings with school pickups as they get a good chunk of money. People find hardly any auto at the stands in the mornings, compelling them to depend on private vehicles, he says.
According to Jagannathan of Eastend Residents' Welfare Association, share autos provide the crucial missing link of last mile connectivity in remote locations. "It became an instant hit among commuters in the city, so why not wave the magic wand in suburbs as well," he asks.
