If you ask a citizen about the areas in Mumbai where most cabbies and rickshaw drivers refuse to ply, the answer is mostly likely to be 'everywhere'.
According to the traffic police, the nuisance points are mainly outside railway stations and offices where there are taxi and rickshaw stands. During peak hours, the drivers wait for long distance fares and blatantly refuse anyone who does not fit into their criteria.
However, some of the most dreaded spots are Dadar TT, Dadar railway station, Andheri and Borivali stations, Linking Road in Santa Cruz, SV road in Bandra, LJ Road in Mahim, Chembur station, areas near Kurla.
Dr BK Upadhyay, joint commissioner of police (traffic) said, "The taxi and rickshaw drivers cannot refuse a passenger even if he wants to go just 100 or 200 meters. These drivers may prefer to travel only long distances, but this is not allowed as per the law."
Upadhyay said it is impossible to deploy cops at every point to track instances of fare refusal as the interaction is between the passenger and driver. "Commuters must report such incidents so that we can take necessary action. There are some people who call on our control room following which the nearest traffic division is alerted and errant drivers are penalised," Upadhyay added.
While a taxi drivers is fined Rs 200, the penalty for an auto driver is Rs 100 if caught by the traffic police for refusing to ply. The traffic police said that many drivers do not change their ways even after being fined several times. The cops are now in the process of preparing a list of repeat offenders. The transport commissioner will then issue show cause notices on them and those who fail to respond will have their licences impounded for 10 days, said officials.
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