Radio cab comfort in taxis likely in Mumbai

Union plans to start by Sept 1 a club of AC black-and-yellows, which will be a call away

Soon, expect the comfort and convenience of radio taxis in your regular black-and-yellow taxis at a cost that you decide.
The Mumbai Taximen's Union (MTU) is finalising plans to start an exclusive club of black-and-yellow taxi drivers who will provide air-conditioned services and will be only a call away for passengers.
The service is likely to be available after September 1.
And there's more: They will charge passengers regular fare even for the value-added service and only accept tips or an additional percentage of the fare based on an understanding reached with the passenger.
Passengers will also have the option of paying a fixed amount for a month as subscription fee to travel in the vehicle after negotiating with the taxi driver concerned.
AL Quadros, the union leader, said drivers who belong to this club will have a separate identity.
Unlike radio taxi services, passengers will be able to speak directly with the taxi driver so that they get realistic idea of the time the driver needs to reach them.
Also, since the additional monetary transactions concerning the value-added services are voluntary, passengers do not have to pay fares similar to the high fares of radio taxis or cool cabs.
According to the union, only 10,000 to 12,000 black-and-yellow taxis are of the Premier Padmini model, the rest are new car models.
But, of the new car models only 8,000 have air-conditioners installed as the regional transport offices would force the drivers to remove the AC units which were installed in the new vehicles.
"We are adding more Santros and WagonRs to the fleet and replacing them with the Padminis. We also plan to add better car models such as Dzire, Swift and SX4. Only those taxi drivers who have these new cars will be a part of the club. This way, we will ensure that passengers get the maximum comfort and they have enough reasons to tip handsomely or have monthly subscriptions with our drivers," Quadros said.
Apart from competing with the radio taxis, the taxi union also wants to ensure that the drivers are not prevented from providing AC services by the traffic police.
Quadros alleged that traffic policemen fine Rs500 to any driver who drives passengers in an AC taxi. "About 50 such drivers have already joined the club and we are expecting more to join," he said.
DNA's calls to the joint commissioner of police (traffic) went unanswered.
But, a senior traffic police official, on the condition of anonymity, said: "This issue (a related proposal of the union as per which the union demanded 10% additional fare for AC services) has been discussed with the chief minister and even he was not in favour of it. How will the union ensure that there is no overcharging?"