Auto, taxi drivers refuse to ply? Call their unions

Mad at the cabbie for leaving you stranded in the rain? Stop fretting and just pick up the phone to register a complaint with the taxi union.

Mad at the cabbie for leaving you stranded in the rain? Stop fretting and just pick up the phone to register a complaint with the taxi union.

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On June 7, the Hindustan Times had reported about the Regional Transport Offices receiving complaints of autos and taxi drivers refusing to ply during the rains.

Hence, the taxi and auto unions have decided to open their office telephone lines to register complaints against errant drivers.

The Mumbai Taximen’s Union had a meeting with its fellow members on Sunday where they asked drivers to stop refusing fares. “If a taxi driver refuses to ply, commuters can call up our office to register a complaint. We have asked these drivers to not refuse passengers and are sure that complaints will come down,” said AL Quadros, general secretary, Mumbai Taximen’s Union.

Although the penalty or action against errant drivers is yet to be decided, the union said it would take serious note of each complaint. The union will also look at the genuineness of the complaint and the reasons given by the driver.

Some of the most common excuses given by drivers for refusing fares during the rains are: water will enter the vehicle, the brakes aren’t functioning, the roads are slippery, there is no gas in the vehicle, the wipers aren’t working, water logging, among others.

Many times they also demand higher fares to ply during heavy rains.

Similarly, the autorickshaw union has decided to help passengers by registering complaints at their office. “We are already receiving complaints. We don’t mind if people call up and inform us about refusals,” said Shashank Rao, son of union leader Sharad Rao and assistant general secretary of Mumbai Autorickshaw Union.

“The step was required. The unions have a major role to play in improving the quality of service,” said a senior RTO official.