Commuters using Thane railway station may soon be able to avoid fare negotiations with auto-rickshaw drivers, with the Thane Regional Transport Office (RTO) proposing a prepaid auto-rickshaw service at the station.
The proposal, submitted to the Maharashtra government, is expected to receive approval shortly. The initiative is aimed at addressing long-standing complaints about fare bargaining, arbitrary charges, ride refusals and disputes over destinations.
Under the proposed system, passengers arriving at Thane railway station will first provide their destination at the prepaid counter and pay the applicable fare. An auto-rickshaw will then be assigned to them.
According to Thane Deputy RTO Hemangini Patil, fares for destinations located within approximately 6 to 8 km of the railway station have already been finalised.
The prepaid arrangement is expected to make the process more transparent by ensuring that passengers know the fare before beginning their journey. It could also reduce disagreements between commuters and drivers over pricing.
As part of the plan to improve discipline around Thane station, the administration will deploy two RTO officials during peak morning and evening hours.
The officials will work in four-hour shifts and monitor auto-rickshaw operations, respond to passenger complaints and take action against instances of driver misconduct.
The move is intended to improve commuter safety and ensure smoother traffic management around the busy railway station.
The prepaid auto proposal was discussed during a joint meeting involving Thane MLA Sanjay Kelkar, Thane Traffic Police and RTO officials.
The meeting followed an inspection of the congested areas surrounding Thane railway station. Officials also reviewed traffic problems at key locations across the city, including Wagle Estate, Kopri and Indira Nagar.
According to Kelkar, authorities are considering a permanent traffic police presence at busy junctions to tackle internal congestion and improve traffic movement.
The proposed prepaid auto-rickshaw system is expected to provide commuters with a more predictable and hassle-free way to travel from Thane railway station. By fixing fares in advance and increasing official supervision, authorities hope to reduce fare-related disputes and improve the overall experience for passengers.
The service will be rolled out once the state government's approval is received.