MUMBAI: Mad at the cabbie? Don't fret and don't get taken for a ride. Head for your laptop or the nearest cyber café and file an online complaint with the Mumbai traffic police that promise immediate action.
The next time an errant autorickshaw or taxi driver charges exorbitant fares, log on to
www.trafficpolicemumbai.com and click on the link 'Complaint against autos and taxies' on the home page.
Swamped with increasing complaints, the traffic police have developed software that allows citizens to lodge a complaint in an easy-to-fill online form.
Though New Delhi has been following the system for some time, Mumbai cops activated the page only earlier this month. About 1,000 auto and taxi drivers have been fined.
"We have been receiving loads of complaints against errant cabbies, so we decided to launch the online complaint system to speed up the process," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satish Chand Mathur.
"Once you click on the link, it opens a form asking for the applicant's name, the number of the vehicle against which the complaint is being filed, date and place of occurrence, vehicle type and the nature of complaint -- excess fare, refusal to ply faulty meter or other complaints," Mathur said.
"Once we receive a complaint, we track down the errant driver and take action against him."
A first time offender is levied a minimum fine of Rs 100 according to the law and the driver is warned. Second-time offenders are dealt with higher fines and suspension of the driver's license.
Encouraged by the response, major websites like Yahoo, Hotmail and Google are being roped in for "online community groups" to inform Mumbaikars about traffic diversions and major day-to-day traffic updates.
"We are installing electronic variable message system boards across the city. These will be connected to the traffic control room and be of great help to Mumbaikars during emergencies and major traffic diversions," Mathur added.
