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Autocracy boosts demand for Bengaluru taxis

Even for a minimum distance of 4 km they start charging exorbitant rates

Bengaluru: Tired of being fleeced by over- charging, unscrupulous auto rickshaw drivers, a majority of Bengaluru's commuters now prefer cabs. The latter are more economical, for one.

While many cabs charge as little as Rs 10 to Rs 15 per km, auto rickshaws charge Rs 25 for the first two kilometres. Additionally, with the rising crime rate in the city, cabs installed with GPS provide a sense of security to the passengers, particularly women.

If you board an auto rickshaw from Koramangala to Cunningham Road, the fare comes to Rs 150, while a mini Ola cab, will cost Rs 130. However, a bigger vehicle will cost about Rs 160. Cab service is especially handy for those living on the outskirts.

Mohammad Atawar, who resides in Hessarghatta but frequently visits Koramangala remarks, "If I take a cab to Koramangala, it comes to Rs 350 and an auto rickshaw costs me Rs 400. It does not make sense to pay more and travel so far, inconveniently."

The arrogant attitude of the auto drivers increases drastically during rains. Even for a minimum distance of 4 km they start charging exorbitant rates. In such a scenario, cabs are the best option.

Transport Commissioner Ramegowda says, "More people are opting for cabs because they are more convenient and they come to your doorstep. Besides, you have the apps and you can make online payments and avoid situations where you have to quarrel for change or cough up extra Rs 10-20."

Also, women passengers feel safer traveling in taxis instead of auto rickshaws. Janavi Kumari, engineer, says, "After 8 pm I always opt for cabs. They are closed from all sides, unlike autos and they have GPS installed. Every now and than we see reports of auto drivers abusing and molesting passengers and so we would prefer not to travel in their vehicles."

Currently there are 1, 42,790 auto rickshaws in the city while we have just 7000-8000 city taxis. Raghuvir Sarma, a BPO employee says, "We definitely need more taxis. During weekends, all lines of taxi operators are busy and if at all you can connect you do not get a cab immediately and you have to wait for hours."

"Mini cabs always remain unavailable so I end up opting for prime and paying more. In this case, it does not make any difference to your pocket. Even the apps hardly show availability of mini cabs. In fact, they want the customers to opt for prime and sedan so that they can charge higher fares," adds Biswajit K, a commuter.

Sanjeev D from Praja, RAAG feels, "We need dedicated taxi stands and shared taxi concept like Mumbai. And it should be followed by proper regulation and permits so that there is controlled growth."

( Source : sangeeta bora )
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