“It’s the only thing that pisses me off about Chennai!”, exclaimed Genn , a Californian tourist on being questioned what drives her nuts about Chennai. She, along with her friends and family is seen sipping coconut water and nibbling on a ‘bhutta’ while vehemently bargaining on payment. “this is the one thing that I picked up in my twenty days spent in Chennai.However, what has annoyed Gen and her friends is not the exasperating humidity but the ‘auto rickshaw’ drivers. The fact that they do not run on meter and charge exorbitant fares discourages her to explore the city alone without her husband’s company. No matter wherever asked to,they take them out to a part distant from the city and land them up in front of pricey shopping malls. Her face is seen turning grave as she imitates an auto rickshaw driver. “Usually when we ask them to take us to the beach or somewhere,we are taken to some strange shopping mall really far into the city and on breaking into an argument,all they say is,no madam we know!”.
Discussion with other tourists bring us a shocking revelation,that these auto drivers have been accustomed to a weird habit of being tipped in cash or kind. Thus,they demand such tips from every tourist they supposedly ‘take for a ride on’ and do not budge without their fare and tips.
The association of the Auto Rickshaw drivers have just one thing to counter it. Since, the government has not ruled out auto-rickshaws to run on a proper meter and the rising petrol rices make them demand fares that seem to be too pricey for the tourists as well as the city dwellers. The absence of Government run ‘taxis’ too, looks like a problem to them which enables them to ask for such high fares. Although, the way the foreigners are forcefully taken to destinations which they do not want to and harassed for tips and gifts should be brought in the Government’s notice and they handle it will make for a new post altogether!
In the meantime, Genn plans to learn how to bargain for fare too!
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