Soon, you can file online complaints against errant drivers in Maharashtra

Mumbaiites may soon be able to file complaints online against taxi and autorickshaw drivers who refuse rides or overcharge them.

You may soon be able to file complaints online against taxi and autorickshaw drivers who refuse rides or overcharge them.

Since last year, the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Department has been in the process of launching a new web-based grievance redress system for autorickshaw and taxi passengers.

Since last year, the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Department has been in the process of launching a new web-based grievance redress system for autorickshaw and taxi passengers.

The process might be sped up in the wake of the Bombay high court’s directive on Wednesday ordering the state government to introduce the system by May.

The officials said they are trying to open the system to the public by April.

“The system is likely to be ready in a week. Only a few issues like hosting on specific servers need to be tackled,” said a senior official requesting anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Currently, only a handful of passengers approach the RTOs as the procedure -- which involves submitting written complaints at the regional transport offices (RTO) or calling on helpline numbers -- is tedious.

Another difficulty, according to commuters, is the change in the existing helpline numbers of the interactive voice response system according to the region.

It means that the helpline numbers in Mumbai is different than that of Thane even though rickshaws and taxis are allowed to ply across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The high court has directed transport department to devise a grievance redress mechanism to deal with rude behaviour of auto rickshaw drivers.

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