Long-distance rail travellers at mercy of Mumbai's taxis and autos

The lack of a dedicated BEST bus service at the city’s airport doesn’t cut much ice with you? Then look no further than the railway termini.

Taxi and auto drivers fleecing rail passengers at the five mass entry points of the city — Kurla, Bandra, Dadar, Mumbai Central and Borivli — has become a common sight, for want of regular BEST bus services from the stations to the city centre.

“There are lakhs of passengers coming here from all corners of the country everyday and all these passengers are at the mercy of those cab and auto drivers, who drive the newcomers around in circles. There have been incidents where taximen and automen have asked for hundreds of rupees for small distances,” complained Subhash Gupta, a former member of the National Railway Users’ Consultative Committee.

Among the lot, only the Borivli station offers some respite, with air-conditioned buses available outside the station. But the glitch: infrequent services.

“There is looting at places like the Kurla and Bandra rail termini. Many autos and cabs that ply there are illegal ones and the drivers charge arbitrary fares. If one gets into an argument with them, things come to blows,” said commuter Harshad Parasnis, who had a “bad experience” at the Kurla terminus when he arrived here from Nashik.

BEST’s former chairman Pravin Chheda suggested that railway authorities and bus operators join hands to start a dedicated bus service from the station termini.

"The red-coloured BEST buses are the brand of Mumbai and everyone across the country knows them well. There is a certain trust element in them and starting such a service from terminus stations is practically possible. The BEST and the railways should explore this option,” said Chheda, who started a bus service at the Kurla terminus a few years ago.

Madhu Kotian of the Mumbai Suburban Passenger Association was also in favour of bus services at railway stations. “Autos and cabs are the unorganised sector and a public transport like BEST coming there will definitely help commuters.”

“Though there are stray routes, there is no dedicated service that would get passengers to and from terminus stations. Such services are the need of the hour,” Kotian added.