If city traffic cops have their way, Hyderabad residents would be in for a pleasant surprise. After a crash course in etiquette on Tuesday morning, about 500 auto drivers have promised to put up their best performance while the CoP 11 meet is on in the city. Apart from assuring the traffic cops that they would dress up themselves, the autowallahs said they would follow traffic rules, eschew rude behaviour and not fleece the visiting international delegates.
Ironically, the image of the auto drivers among the city commuters is exactly the opposite. “They are never dressed properly, very rude in their behaviour, never follow traffic rules, and fleece passengers. If the drivers change their behaviour at least during the duration of the CoP meet, it will be a welcome development in the city,” said Rama Devi, a city resident who depends on auto to commute between her residence and place of work.
It was a strange meeting that took place on Tuesday morning. On the one side were Cyberabad traffic officials and on the other, the auto drivers, two sides that are ever at war. Addressing this gathering at the NAC building in Hitex, Madhapur police station inspector K Srinath Reddy said: “There may be many problems and issues between us, but for once let us keep them aside and work together for the upcoming international meeting. The pride and honour of the country is most important and let us show the foreign delegates how warm and friendly we are.”
He appealed to the auto drivers to cooperate with the traffic officials especially on the routes leading to the venue. “The buses carrying the delegates will travel from various hotels in the city to the meeting venue and these routes are called green channels. Autos plying on these routes should immediately give way to these delegates’ buses which have CoP logo on them.”
He further requested the auto drivers not to cheat the foreign delegates as it would bring disrepute to the country. In fact, some auto drivers volunteered to take foreign delegates to the venue of the meeting or to their respective hotels free of cost. P Ravi, an auto driver at the Hi-Tec city auto stand said “This is a proud moment for the city and hence we have decided to do our bit. Everyday, we have decided to provide free trips two hours in the morning as well as evening to the foreign delegates free of cost. All the autos at our stand near Hi-tec city will be part of this programme. We will also have a CoP logo on our autos so that the delegates can easily identify them”
–Courtesy:Timesofindia
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Auto-drivers-to-become-gentlemen-for-Conference-of-Parties-11/articleshow/16456115.cms