The city’s transport system was badly affected this week as vehicles went off the road out of “requisition-phobia”. Streets were virtually devoid of buses, taxis and mini-buses as the administration went on a requisition-spree in connection with the holding of District Council election.
While some of the “ill-fated” ones fell into the net of the administration, the careful ones preferred to keep their vehicles in the garage. It is learnt that the district administration requisitioned nearly 100 vehicles of various descriptions.
The resultant effect: the commuters went through a harrowing experience. The buses and taxis were playing sparingly. And there was virtually a chaotic condition. Some “lucky” taxis, which were on road, had a file day. Fares were raised arbitrarily sometimes doubly.
It is felt that much of the chaos could have been avoided if the administration had made an announcement that requisitioning had been stopped after the requisite number of vehicles were in their possession. Most of the taxis and jeep owners; it seems, were reluctant to bring out their vehicles even after the requisitioning had been called off.
Said the transport operator, “it is better not to earn anything than to get requisitioned by the Government”. Another taxi-owner remarked “it is like burning a candle from both sides – neither will they pay nor will the vehicle be looked after.” Indeed the main grouse of the operators is that the government takes inordinately long to pay up, if at all. Mostly the administration does not pay. Only rarely the payment is made and that too after a gap of two or three years.
It is felt that the Govt should examine the various provisions of the law regarding requisition of private vehicles. If not anything, care must be taken to make the payment of a reasonable fare at the time of releasing the vehicles. This one step would automatically evaporate the fears and agonies of transport operators in this regard, it is felt.
While the hide-and-seek drama goes on between the administration and transport operators, one section of people who reap a big harvest are the policemen. It is an accepted fact that even during normal times without greasing the palms of policemen no public transport can play for long. But the demand during the crisis period is enormous. It is alleged that police parties entrusted to do requisition let off vehicles if they are “satisfied”. But the process of “satisfying” is said to be a never-ending affair. Almost everyday, at some point or other the policemen in the name of “requisition” extract whatever they can from the drivers.