WHY CAN’T BE A PRE-PAID TAXI/SHARING RICKSHAW IN MUMBAI FROM ALL RAILWAY STATIONS?

It is a frightening experience to get a taxi/rickshaw at a reasonable rate in Mumbai and rest of India!  If we travel by bus, there is a fixed rate for a particular distance.  When we travel by Rickshaw/ Taxi, the fares would be mind boggling.  They over charge the customers in different way.  Through manipulated meters, taking through frequent traffic signals and long waiting, taking unknown passengers through long distance routes, quarrelling with passengers with indecent languages and frightening them with dire consequences just to grab more money, behave like they are new to this area, they don’t know the routes and areas etc.

Most of the passengers facing the problem from major railway stations especially Kurla LTT, Dadar, CST, Bandra, Mumbai Central, Panvel etc. where long distance trains starting.  Rickshaw and taxiwallas are not ready to travel for a short distance area.  They will charge sometimes 10-15 times more. For a minimum fare, one has to cough up atleast Rs.150/- and above, if anybody get a taxi directly from the railway stations.  They are very well organized with the support of police and railway authorities.

Govt. should take following steps for keeping larger interest of the people.

v      Mechanical meter should be replaced to tamperproof electronic meter which should be made compulsory for all rickshaws and taxis with a specific time frame of maximum 6 months. Otherwise their licence and permit should be revoked.

v      People should have choice to travel through pre-paid taxi/rickshaws on demand through the existing taxis/rickshaws which should be available in a printed form.  The rates should be fixed by govt. in consultation with all concerned authorities.

v      The drivers should be well mannered with the customers and well versed with all routes. 

v      Some of the basic mandatory requirement for the driver who is plying taxi/ rickshaw is they should be well versed with all routes of Mumbai so that they cannot misguide the customer for taking long distance routes with traffic blocks. 

v      Prepaid taxi/rickshaw services should be made available and people have option to travel either through meter or pre-paid fixed tariff basis.

v      Customer should get a receipt with details like amount charged, vehicle No. Driver’s Badge No., traveled from and to etc. This will ensure some accountability. 

v      RTO and Traffic police should conduct some 2 weeks training with a certificate how to behave with customers, the routes of their respective metros, how to handle with disabled persons, basic traffic rules etc. to improve the image of taxi and rickshaw drivers. 

v      The person who don’t have any antecedents like engaging in criminal activities, should only given permit to ply the taxi in respective Metros like Mumbai.  This will check the growing criminal activities among the drivers.

v      A toll free Helpline No. should be provided to report and register any complaint against cabbies and rickshawwallas.  This way the authorities can cross check their behaviour and take necessary steps against the culprits.  

v      Computerised Tamper proof number plate should be used compulsorily and vehicle number should be clearly shown near passengers seat. 

v      The drivers who have criminal antecedents and not keeping the norms of the RTO and other guidelines should be revoked.

v      Sharing taxi and rickshaws should also allowed from all places to reduce the burden on the passengers and also to the drivers.

v      Nowadays taxiwala and rickshawalla making crocodile tears about less business. A sharing Rickshaw/ taxi from all the railway stations and terminals will benefit both people as well as taxi/ rickshawallas. This way their income will be doubled and tripled and people started depending such services. Today transportation cost is much higher side on all mode. Hence such initiative will benefit all sections.