BANGALORE: Harassment of passengers by autorickshaw drivers is expected to come down with the introduction of the licence display system that was launched by the Commissioner of Police, Ajai Kumar Singh, on Thursday.

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has now made it mandatory for autorickshaw drivers to display the details of their driving licence.

The driver's details and photograph will be displayed on the rear side of the driver's seat so that passengers can clearly see them.

Passengers can note down the name and address of the driver, vehicle registration number and complain to the police or the Transport Department, in case of any harassment or misbehaviour by the driver.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East), M. Abdullah Saleem, told The Hindu that a desk has been set up at his office and autorickshaw drivers can submit applications for obtaining the licence display cards.

The police will cross check with the Transport Department, the details of the driving licence provided by the applicants.

The display cards will bear the signatures of the police and Transport Department officials, Mr. Saleem said.

The police are also creating a database of autorickshaw drivers and this will help the police in taking action against errant drivers, he said.

The Adarsha Autorickshaw and Taxi Drivers' Union has taken the lead in this regard by making its members apply for the licence display cards. The Commissioner of Police signed the display cards and issued them to nearly 50 drivers at a function organised by the union on Thursday.

Dr. Singh said the new system would also be useful in checking crimes by the autorickshaw drivers, which is on the rise. He said the system would help the public too.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu