'Commuters file false complaints to harass us'

Say taxi, auto union leaders, who have complained about this to the RTO and traffic police

TAXI and auto rickshaw unions in the city have approached the police to complain that their members are being harassed by false complaints filed online and using toll-free numbers by commuters out of "personal rivalry". Senior officials are, however, taking the complaint with a pinch of salt.


Drivers allege that online complaint facility and toll-free numbers are being misused by some people

Thampy Kurian, working president of Mumbai Autorickshaw Union, said, "I think the online complaint facility and toll-free numbers are being misused by some people out of personal rivalry. They just want to harass auto rickshaw drivers.
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We believe that complainants should file their complaints directly instead of filing them online. That will make the procedure more authentic," he said.

A taxi driver from Mumbai Central said, "We are fed up of this online thing. We come to know that someone has complained against us only when we get a notice from the RTO. What makes it worse for us is that officials always side with the complainants."

Officials' take

DCP (Traffic) Nandkumar Chougule, however, believes that the unions are engaging in pressure tactics. "I don't believe that the online complaints are fake.

These are pressure tactics from the unions. I don't think the commuters who are complaining have any personal rivalry with the cabbies. They are complaining because they are facing problems," he said.

"Moreover, complainants have to give all their personal details, so there is no scope for the complaints being false," added Chougule.

Echoing Chougule's sentiments, Transport Commisioner Dilip Jadhav said, "Why will commuters complain unless they are harassed?

I personally believe that only one or two out of a thousand complaints may be bogus. Some commuters also provide us with photographs to back their case. If cabbies believe that the complaints are false, we do give them time to make their point," said Jadhav.