18 October,2010 07:10 AM IST | | Bipin Kumar Singh
Mumbai Taximen's Union will float an online forum to ease friction between commuters and drivers through increased interaction
Lately, there has been no love lost between cabbies and commuters. And the taxi drivers' union in the city has finally decided to do some damage control by launching a website to reach out to commuters.
After MiD DAY's massive campaign earlier this year against cabbies for refusing fare, errant taxi drivers were caught on an unprecedented scale (see box).
In the wake of the campaign, many citizens came together to carry on the drive against cabbies with campaigns like Meter Jam.
Interaction
And following the constant criticism, reported extensively by MiD DAY, the body of Mumbai taxi drivers now plans a website for directly communicating with their passengers.
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Mumbai Taximen's Union president A L Quadros (inset) feels the various citizen group campaigns have soured relations between commuters and taxi drivers
The website will invite commuters to give suggestions for better co-ordination between the two parties.
Speaking to MiD DAY, the president of Mumbai Taximen's Union the chief body of taxi drivers in the city A L Quadros, said that the website aims to mend relations between commuters and drivers, soured by citizen group campaigns.
Union reacts
"Some NGOs and social groups have started a campaign against our cabbies over several issues.
This has weakened the relationship between cabbies and commuters. To ensure a better coordination between the two, we plan to launch a website," said Quadros.
The website, expected to be ready by January, comes close on the heels of the second phase of Meter Jam campaign, which failed to garner the attention of commuters.
"This is a matter between our drivers and commuters. It shouldn't be used as a platform to garner publicity. On our website, we will welcome suggestions from commuters and discuss the drivers' problems," said Quadros.
"If required we will seek help from the Mumbai Traffic Police as well as the RTO to organise workshops for commuters and cabbies on a regular basis to ensure better coordination between the two," he added.
VOICES
Normally the cabbies are very rude with passengers. I think the website will be a better place for communication and the cabbies will hopefully change their style of working.
Chetna S Misal, (18), Student
I am sick of cabbies at the airport either refusing to ply altogether or asking for exorbitant sums. I think it is a good move on the union's part if it seriously wants to establish good relations with commuters.
Ashutosh Mishra (30), Manager
I welcome the move by the taxi union. It will be easier for people in the corporate world to share their opinions online as they are anyway well-connected to the internet.
Yuti Chandan (23), MBA student
MASSIVE SUCCESS
MiD DAY's popular drive in April-May this year, along with Radio One, Rickshaw Unions, the Traffic Police and the RTO, against autorickshaw drivers for refusing fare, was a whopping success:
1,551: The number of taxi drivers booked/ fined in the month of MiD DAY's campaign
5,018: The number of taxi drivers booked for refusing fare in the year 2009
450: The number of taxi drivers fined by the RTO in a month
130: The number of taxi drivers caught by MiD DAY on Day 1 of the campaign
Rs 1.25 lakh: The amount collected by way of fines during the MiD DAY campaign
