As the prospect of yet another taxi and auto strike loomed, many Mumbaikars spent the weekend agonising over the will-they-won’t-they situation
As the prospect of yet another taxi and auto strike loomed, many Mumbaikars spent the weekend agonising over the will-they-won’t-they situation. For a city that’s always on the move, the uncertainty of how one will make it to work on Monday morning, can be particularly unsettling.
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As the city’s transport landscape shifts rapidly, we are seeing huge changes on the ground. From cab aggregators to reports that A/C private buses have been given the green light, and even citizen initiatives like car pooling — the contours of the commuting map are being redefined all the time. Change inevitably brings much push and pull, considerable resistance and clashes, and the commuter is often caught in the crossfire.
So, it is welcome news that the government is coming out with a policy for cab aggregators like Uber and Ola. One hopes that this policy, expected to be out in the next two months, brings some kind of clarity and structure. It should also be a definite move towards putting an end to strikes that leave people in a limbo and add to the stress levels of the already harried Mumbaikar.
The policy, should keep commuter welfare at the heart of it. Work out the grey areas in fare fixation and availability of autos and taxis — two core areas that affect the commuter most. For instance, it should provide solutions when it comes to refusal of fares. We know that cabbies and autos are duty-bound to take passengers, but there is a gap between rules and reality. There needs to be regulation on what taxis charge on high demand days. Mostly though, the policy must aim to make black-and-yellow taxis, autos and cab aggregators, as well as any new entrants, co-exist in a systematic and peaceful manner. The goal is to ensure the commuter has options, and is not stranded by agitations.
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