Transport authorities approve two new share-a-taxi routes

Bearing in mind the rising demand for cheaper modes of public transportation on routes where the frequencies of BEST buses are poor, transport authorities have approved two new share-a-taxi routes.

Bearing in mind the rising demand for cheaper modes of public transportation on routes where the frequencies of BEST buses are poor, transport authorities have approved two new share-a-taxi routes.

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The taxis will be available from Lower Parel station to Worli Naka and Elphinstone Road station to Doordarshan in the island city.

During its meeting on Thursday, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA), headed by transport secretary SK Sharma, decided to start share-a-taxi service on these two routes, taking the total number of share-a-taxi routes in the island city to 56.

"We have approved two new share-a-taxi routes within city limits, in addition to 31 new share-a-rickshaw routes," said VN More, transport commissioner.

"While a BEST bus ticket costs Rs5 from Elphinstone station to Doordarshan, a share-a-taxi fare will cost Rs6," said SM Modhave, a regular commuter on the route.

Although taxi unions welcomed the move, they have also complained about the poor facility of taxi stands at these places. AL Quadros, leader, Mumbai Taximen's Union said that as the traffic police do not allow taxi drivers to take a turn at Worli Naka, they are forced to either bribe them or travel via Jijamate Nagar, almost a kilometer away. He further demanded share-a-taxi routes on routes like the Grant road-Mahabar hill route.