Future of radio taxis: as cheap as an auto, yet more Comfortable

Delhi never have had taxis you can flag at the streets. And not getting fleeced by an autowallah depends on how well you can haggle.

Delhi never have had taxis you can flag at the streets. And not getting fleeced by an autowallah depends on how well you can haggle. Reason: Delhi does not have a robust para-transit system. You either drive your own car or take a metro or a bus.

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However, if the transport department is to be believed you will soon have several other comfortable, yet affordable, options. The number of radio cabs — first introduced in the Capital in 2006 — has been steadily increasing and has proved popular, thanks to its safe and reliable service. The government is now planning to make them more popular by introducing radio cabs that will be as affordable as auto-rickshaws.

"These radio cabs will be available at just Rs 10 per kilometre. We have already received applications from operators for licences to run such radio taxis. You will soon find them running across the Capital," said a senior transport department official.

There are about 4,500 radio cabs being run by more than 10 operators. Senior transport department officials believe that this number will soon cross touch 10,000, as more operators are apply for licences to run such taxis.

Apart from making radio cabs more affordable, if the government manages to reign in the rogue autowallahs, Delhiites's lives is all set to become easier still.

"We are launching a drive against auto-rickshaws from November 1. We will form several teams of transport department's enforcement wing, which will conduct surprise checks and penalise auto-rickshaws that refuse to go by the fare metre or misbehave," Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said.