Taxi, auto drivers to face action for overcharging

Mumbai: The authorities have claimed that passengers refrain from filing complaints about the rude behaviour of taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), despite being overcharged.

As a result, these drivers are least bothered about passengers, authorities and railway activists. Meanwhile, the department plans to crack the whip on unruly drivers if they are found fleecing passengers, transport commissioner Shekhar Channe told The Asian Age. “Auto-rickshaw drivers should charge fares as per the meter rate. If they fail to do so, appropriate action will be taken against them,” he said.

Referring to an incident on the night of Friday, Mr Channe said, “RTO officers have visited the place. They are taking information from the police. Once we get the information, we will take action against these drivers.” Pawan Yadav, a salesman at a clothes store in Kurla, said that auto-rickshaw drivers were looting passengers, charging up to Rs 40 to Rs 50 for a journey of one kilometre. They were cramming as many as five passengers in one auto-rickshaw. If a passenger negotiates  the LTT fare from Kurla east and later decides not to take the auto, the driver abuses the passenger. The RTO number, displayed at the LTT station premises, is not working,” said Mr Yadav.

Mumbai Taximen Union leader A.L. Quadros said, “If passengers complain with the union, we can only give warnings to the concerned drivers as we don’t have the authority to take action against them.”