Almost 2,000 cabbies won’t be plying their taxis, as a protest against the start of Dadar-Pune cab service from the airport from June 1. They are also opposing the introduction of fleet cabs, which is not launched yet, from Sahar.
If your flight is landing at Santacruz airport in the noon or at Sahar in the evening on Monday, you better book a private cab in advance. Chances are that you may not find a black and yellow or a cool cab. Almost 2,000 cabbies won’t be plying their taxis, as a protest against the start of Dadar-Pune cab service from the airport from June 1. They are also opposing the introduction of fleet cabs, which is not launched yet, from Sahar.
On Monday no cabs will operate from 12pm to 1.30pm at Santacruz airport and from 8pm to 11pm (peak hours) at Sahar Airport. “The airport is going to start Dadar-Pune taxi service from June 1,” says Kanhaiya Singh, president, Mumbai Airport Taxi Rickshaw Union (MATRU). “Why doesn’t the RTO give us a temporary permit (TP) so that even we can drive passengers to Pune and back,” he says.
There are 1800 cabs that operate from Sahar airport daily and 650 from Santacruz airport. Around 1500 Pune passengers are picked up daily from Sahar airport by the travel and tour operators and private car rentals. “We are already facing competition from fleet cabs and travel and tour operators who operate illegally to pick up passengers from the airport,” he says.
The cabbies are also angry that the fleet cabs which operate at Santacruz airport will also be starting at Sahar airport. “These fleet cabs charge passengers Rs50 as parking charge besides the usual fare. At Sahar it will be Rs80. These fleet cabs have been given counters at Santacruz airport. Why don’t they give us that much parking space? We do not charge passengers for parking. In fact we are working there without basic facilities like canteen, toilets and sitting arrangements,” says Singh.
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