Soon, report fleet taxi fare refusal in Maharashtra

In the near future, you may be able to book complaints on the anti-refusal helpline number 1800-22-0110 against fleet taxi companies if you are denied a taxi while booking on their call centres or if it is cancelled after it was promised to you.

Speaking to the media on Thursday at the inauguration of the pre-paid taxi scheme at Mumbai Central Terminus, principal secretary (transport) of Maharashtra, SK Sharma responded to queries on the absence of checks on fleet taxi companies.

He said he will look into the matter and asked Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials who look after the monitoring of the helpline every day to think of a solution to the problem.

An official from the Andheri RTO said they will work on introducing a new feature in the anti-refusal helpline software to facilitate booking complaints against fleet taxi companies. Presently, commuters can only book complaints against drivers of taxis and autorickshaws.

“The software could be tweaked suitably to include the option of penalising fleet taxi companies so that this practice is stopped,” the official said.

On being asked for a response, chief executive officer of Meru Cabs, Rajesh Puri, said: “We do everything possible to deliver taxis to our customers once the booking has been done. We are very particular when it is a drop to the airport or railway terminus. But we can’t help it if the demand outstrips supply. We also fine our drivers for refusing short trips.”