Patil warned union leaders: “Circulate pamphlets and hold meetings to bring awareness among taxi and auto drivers about the complaints against them.
The state home department has given errant taxi and autorickshaw drivers an ultimatum of 10 days to mend their ways or face stern action. The home department announced 80 new taxi and auto points and more share-a-cab and auto routes.
Home minister RR Patil convened a meeting of officials from the traffic department, the regional transport authority, representatives of the taxi and auto unions and consumer right activists on Wednesday at Mantralaya.
The taxi drivers’ refusal to ply short distance, arrogant behaviour, tampered meters and non-compliance of rules related to the age of the vehicles were the key issues discussed.
Transport commissioner Dilip Jadhav said that out of the 2,800 complaints lodged on the helpline (1800 22 0110) in the past two months, more than 80% were about refusal for plying short distances.
Patil warned the union leaders: “Circulate pamphlets and hold meetings to bring awareness among taxi and auto drivers about the complaints against them. Every taxi and auto driver should have a proper badge and licence and must display the details in the vehicle. They should not refuse to ply short distances.”
Patil directed the transport commissioner and the traffic police officials to launch a joint drive if the complaints do not go down in 10 days. “Also, I have directed the unions to increase the number of sharing taxi and auto routes,” Patil told DNA.
Shirish Deshpande of Mumbai Grahak Panchayat demanded implementation of the electronic meters.
Minister of state for transport Gulabrao Devkar said his department was introducing a policy to make electronic meter mandatory in new vehicles.
“The administration was open to our suggestions,” said Rachna Brar, one of the brains behind the Meter Jam campaign.
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