Mumbai: Auto cab mafias face crackdown

To put an end to the menace of errant autorickshaw drivers asking for more than metered fare, RTOs and Transport department has begun a massive crackdown on auto and taxi drivers operating on sharing basis at railway stations across the city. This comes after a video of an auto driver assaulting a passenger at Bandra Kurla Complex went viral last week.

The drive that started on Monday saw RTOs and Transport department officials paying surprise visits to Kurla and Bandra (E) railway stations.

"RTO officials have begun crackdown against errant auto and taxi drivers who are breaching various traffic laws. We are taking take action against drivers outside railways stations and areas with heavy footfall areas for charging extra and not following lane discipline. The aim is to put an end to errant behaviour," said Shekhar Channe, Transport Commissioner.

Sources said that surprise checks are being conducted wherein officials are asking drivers to ply through a certain route if the driver refuses action is taken. The issue of over-charging is being taken care of by the RTOs. The drive will be conducted every day to make sure citizens are not harassed during peak hours.

Transport experts claim there is a need to ensure that traffic cops take action against drivers who breach rules. "Most of these share auto and taxi drivers have befriended traffic cops and use it to their advantage. They pay little or no heed to traffic rules," said a transport expert.

The incident which triggered the drive saw a driver of a share autorickshaw slapping and shoving a passenger after the latter refused to pay Rs 40 instead of the usual Rs 30 for a share-auto ride.