Mid Day Test Drive: Week 4, Day 3

Authorities and residents believe that MiD DAY's taxi campaign will rid the city of errant cabbies

Authorities and residents believe that MiD DAY's taxi campaign will rid the city of errant cabbies

On the third day of the campaign's fourth week, the total number of errant taxi drivers booked rose to 59. Passengers took the initiative and filed complaints against errant cabbies.

Just you Wait: Sub-inspector Ramesh Patil takes errant cabbie, Pramod Pandey, to task at Dadar. PIC/Sameer Markande

Here's what we found

Reporter: Tulsi Kamath
Location: Dadar
Time: 9.00 AM-11.00 AM and
5.30 PM -7.00 PM
Offenders caught: 10
Taxi driver Pramod Shankar Pandey was caught refusing a passenger to TT Circle. Despite his numerous attempts to get away, Police sub-inspector Ramesh Patil caught him.

In the evening, however, the taxi drivers seemed to haveu00a0 learnt from their mistakes as the number of errant cabbies reduced. Anil Kumar, a resident of Delhi, was refused a ride to Sewri. The cabbie pleaded with the police but to no avail.

Reporter: Mritunjay Kumar
Location: Near International Airport
Time: 9.30 AM-1.30 PM
Offenders caught: 18
RTO officer D Modak booked a cabbie, Nashim Khan, at 9.30 am, as he refused to ply a commuter to JB Nagar. His excuse -- his meter was not working properly.

Another cabbie, Meghlal Yadav, was caught when he refused to ply to Sher-e-Punjab as he was "not feeling well." When constable P Hodawedkar, questioned him, he said, "Sir, I have an upset stomach and need to go home early."

Reporter: Utkarsha Kotian
Location: High Street Phoenix
Time: 5.30 pm-7.30 pm
Offenders caught: 9
The first complainant of the evening was a student of Jai Hind College, Pooja Vakil, who wanted to go to Napean Sea Road and was refused by taxi driver Mukhtar Ahmed. She was very enthusiastic and lodged a
complaint immediately.

Another passenger was so excited that she called all the nearby passengers and told them about the campaign and their rights as passengers.

Reporter: Sayed Roshan
Location: Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)
Time: 9.00 am-11.30 am
and 5.30 pm-7.30 pm
Offenders caught: 4
The second day of the campaign at BKC saw the number of defaulters rise. Rajendra K Javkar, senior police inspector, said, "If this campaign continues for a few more weeks, there won't be a single offender left on the road."

Reporter: Shailesh Bhatia
Location: Bandra and Khar
Time:10.00 am-1.15 PM
and 2.00 PM-8.00 PM
Offenders caught: 18
Continuing the campaign,u00a0 authorities sentu00a0 across a strong message that they meant business. RTO official, Raj Narain Dewedi, said, "There are a few bad apples that need to be weeded out."

To register your complaintu00a0Callu00a0 022-24937755

MiD DAY is running a special campaign to ensure that YOU no longer have to face these rude cabbies. Watch this space for our daily campaign.