Mumbai: Taxi, auto refusals up 66% in last 10 months

MUMBAI: A record 5,844 cases were slapped on auto and taxi drivers in Mumbai in the first 10 months of the 2018-19 financial year for various violations. Of these, over 1,000 had to do with fare refusal, an alarming 66% rise over the corresponding period in 2017-18.
The other violations include meter tampering, rude behaviour, driving without a badge, not wearing uniform (white or khaki clothes) and carrying excess passengers.The data, by the transport department, is till January 31.
Though cases of meter tampering/faulty meter have dipped almost 50%, from 199 in 2017-18 to 102 this time, instances of rude behaviour have gone up by 63%, especially by auto drivers in the suburbs: 248 such cases were registered in 2018-19 as compared to 152 the fiscal before.
Errant drivers were issued challans, while licences were suspended in most cases, officials said. RTOs at Tardeo (island city), Wadala (eastern suburbs), and Andheri and Borivli (western suburbs) suspended 1,320 licences and 1,241 permits, and recovered Rs 38.5 lakh in fines in 2018-19.
Commuter rights activist A V Shenoy suggested that RTOs should impose stringent penalty on errant auto and taxi drivers and ensure that citizens get quality service. "Commuters pay hefty fares. They deserve a ride in a vehicle that is in good running condition with a proper meter and not be refused for short-distance routes," he said.
A member of Mumbai Autorickshawmen's Union blamed the menace on illegal share autos, which carry four to five commuters instead of three. "They ply mainly in Andheri, Jogeshwari and Borivli. Cartels of drivers-also referred to as 'auto mafia'-exist in Kurla, Bandra, including Bandra Terminus and LTT, and airport areas. Many of them have 'ghoda meters' (which run fast and show inflated fares)."
State transport commissioner Shekhar Channe, who travels by auto and taxi occasionally, said he has taken a serious view of all complaints. He has directed RTOs to treat commuter grievances on priority.
Defending the cabbies, taxi union leader A L Quadros said, "Kaali-peeli taxis have been serving commuters for several decades. They operate within the framework of transport regulations and there are not many cases of overcharging or fare refusal." Auto union leader Shashank Rao, however, admitted there were rogue drivers in the trade and said his union will help RTOs in weeding them out.
Suraj Tiwari, a Powai resident, said kaali-peeli drivers refuse short distance rides and are interested in going only to airports. "Now, many of us have downloaded ride-hailing apps on mobile so that we are assured of a cab 24x7, specially late at night," he said.
Autos have become a pain for many commuters who just keep requesting one driver after another for a ride. "They have PSVA (public services vehicle authorization) badges and they are duty-bound to ferry every passenger without asking any questions," said Suchitra Dey, a regular auto commuter from Thakur Complex, Kandivli. But drivers said that at times, they have emergencies such as filling up fuel, returning home or taking a break for food or answering nature's call, which is when they refuse commuters.
There have been suggestions to replace the existing electronic meters with GPS-enabled meters which would give exact fares as per journey distance, time and GPS navigation. "The present day electronic meter can also be rigged and is not fool-proof," a member of Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union said.