Click to play videoChennai: Chennai's auto-rickshaws are notorious for fleecing tourists and the city's residents.
But now the state government has introduced 39 tourist-friendly auto-rickshaws, where the auto drivers are not just mere drivers but also act as guides.
These auto rickshaws are trying to give Chennai's auto culture a much-needed face-lift.
Part of an initiative to change the face of the auto rickshaw, they promise they won't fleece you and no matter where you are from, they will take you round the city.
One of the auto-rickshaw drivers, Murali, explained his modus operandi.
“I communicate with the tourists in their language,” he said.
Murali and other auto-rickshaw drivers like him each have in their possession a book which is filled with happy testimonials and comments and satisfied customers.
For the drivers, however, their rewards don't always stop with comments. A driver, Purushottam, got Rs 1 lakh from a satisfied customer from the Netherlands – she gave him the money to buy his own auto.
“The tourist had come from the Netherlands. She was so impressed by my auto service that she gave me one lakh rupees as a gift,” Purushottam affirmed.
Drivers like Purushottaman and Murali are a welcome change for Chennai's hassled auto- rickshaw passengers.
“I hope other auto-drivers also follow this,” said one commuter while another added, “I think this is a great move introducing tourism autos, and I think all autos should follow the meter system to make travelling hassle-free and with no bargaining.”
These are just 39 of Chennai's 60,000 autos and though they are a small beginning, the trend may just pick up enough to change the notorious image Chennai's auto-rickshaws have earned over the years.
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