AS A mode of transport it is noisy, bumpy and hardly offers any protection from the sun, wind and rain. Yet millions of Indians depend on the auto-rickshaw to take them from place to place.
The three-wheelers, also known as the tuc-tuc in Bangkok and Bajaj in Jakarta, are cheaper than taxis and takes the commuter to their precise destination unlike public buses. But this week has been one of difficulties for auto-rickshaw users in India.
Two main cities — the capital New Delhi and the country's financial centre Mumbai — saw auto fares shoot up after the respective state governments listened to the demands of the drivers' unions.
They wanted a rise in fares following an increase in the price of compressed natural gas or CNG. But irrespective of the hikes, auto drivers have always had their own means of making extra money.
So while the latest hikes have made the unions happy, it is the commuter whose travails have not ended. I say this having experienced travelling in auto rickshaws in all four cities.
In Delhi, where the state government on Tuesday announced the hike in auto fares, hailing the green and yellow vehicle requires time and adequate mental preparation.
It is not as if there are not enough autos for hire. There are plenty. But most of the unruly drivers need to be cajoled or haggled with, depending on your mood, before they agree to take you where you want to go.
For, although the demand for the hike in fares came from the auto drivers' union, seldom does an auto driver in Delhi turn on the metre, the device that calculates the fare.
Instead drivers prefer to settle the fare verbally with the commuter before acceding to let him sit in the three-wheeler.
Thus the rise in fare is ironic because the drivers have their own fare structure. But commuters will have to pay more as the drivers will now use the hike to quote higher rates.
Acknowledging the difficulty of the public in dealing with such auto drivers the government has taken several steps over the years. One of them was to include a complaint form in the national newspapers.
Readers could fill in the errant auto's license number and send it to the concerned department. Commuters could also call up a helpline and put in a complaint about the driver.
But the measures have not really taken off, because it puts the burden on the already harassed commuter to make the complaint.
However, an upbeat Rajendra Soni, head of the autorickshaw unions in Delhi, enthused by the government's decision this week has said the unions will ensure that autos are run on metres.
"We are with the government on the issue of complying with the metres and will make sure that all autos are run on metres," he was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times. Perhaps the commuters of Delhi have something to look forward to.
In the southern city of Chennai, it is the same problem as in Delhi.
Auto drivers refuse to turn on the metre quoting their own price. The haggling for non-Tamil speakers, is carried out in English. It is not unusual to see a harried customer and an obstinate driver staring angrily at each other and shouting:
"I give 20 only,"
"no 35."
"35 too much, 25"
"no 35"
What a great start to the day.
The auto drivers in Kolkata, capital of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, have come up with their unique way of making extra cash.
They ply what are called 'share' autos, where different passengers share the fare and the auto. They are dropped at one convenient point, usually outside the subway station or a bus stand or a cinema hall.
The share autos don't move until all the seats are taken, which means if you and your friend manage to find an empty auto and take your places in it, you have to wait until it is full.
The share autos of Kolkata are unique in another way, they pack as many as four passengers in the vehicle which has seating capacity for three. The 4th passenger shares the seat with the driver.
The one exception is probably Mumbai, where auto drivers are more disciplined. Black and yellow autos run on the metre in most places, all one has to do is hail one.
The only haggling, if required, is to make the driver agree to take you to your destination. Some can be very stubborn and say no if they don't want to take you where you want to go.
But there are others who will go out of their way to help you. Like a driver who passed my sister waiting to hail an auto outside her apartment building on a busy Mumbai street.
Half an hour later, after dropping off his passengers when he passed her again standing at the same spot, he stopped and turning on his meter, said, "Madam you are still waiting. Where do you want to go?"