Kozhikode: The High Court direction to the district administration to ensure protection to the online cab services has brought to light the plight of online taxi drivers attached to various agencies. The direction was issued on a petition submitted by a few online taxi drivers.
Most of the online cab service providers were facing stiff resistance from the traditional taxi drivers who feared a fall in their incomes and loss of jobs.
'Mango Cabs' which was launched earlier was wound up due to protest as well as a series of attacks on the services from traditional taxi drivers and trade unions. The cabs were attacked, passengers harassed and drivers threatened.
As per the plans launched, one can go in the basic model cab for Rs 99 for the first four kilometres and then for Rs 10 and Rs 11 per additional km respectively for AC and non-AC cars. The basic model was Maruti Suzuki Ritz. The services of low budget Uber and Ola cabs have become popular in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
The general public here want a system with low cost and good facilities. Mini Jose, a bank employee in the city, told DC that the failure of online cab services showed that a few can destroy an idea which would have ensured comfort to many. "As working women, we support the online cab system but our voice is suppressed," she added.
CITU national secretary Elamaram Kareem has been supporting the online cab services but is in a 'catch 22' situation as majority of his comrades here are opposing it.
