The monthly check on auto rickshaws and taxis by the Regional Transport Office has brought to light the ugly side of public transportation in Mumbai.
In the latest checks, all the 160 taxis that were inspected by the Regional Transport Office, were found defective
MUMBAI: The monthly check on auto rickshaws and taxis by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) has brought to light the ugly side of public transportation in Mumbai. Of the 160 cabs that were inspected by the RTO officers in the month of January 2008, all turned out to be defective with eight vehicles scrapped due to their condition. Most of the defects were in the engines and the structure of the vehicle, with many vehicles using unauthorised LPG and CNG cylinders.
RTO authorities add that the condition of auto-rickshaws doesn’t seem to be any different from that of the taxis. However, officials say that they have never received a complaint from commuters who use the BEST service. At present, there are over 55,000 taxis and 50,000 auto-rickshaws plying in the city.
Jeevan Bansode, Sr RTO officer says: “The drivers usually get the vehicles on loans and are not interested in maintaining them.” Mohammed Afzal, an activist who has been monitoring vehicles used for public transport adds that most of the public transport vehicles, especially the cabs are over 25 to 30 years old. He says: “Apart from the bad condition of the vehicle, drivers are taking the risk of using unauthorised LPG and CNG cylinders in their vehicles as this gives the cars extra mileage. This should be checked or else we would have more vehicles blasts.” He emphasised the fact that public transport drivers are asking the liberty of violating CNG safety norms without the RTO bothering to fine them.
But ever since the LPG cylinder in a van carrying school kids blew up, RTO officials have become more vigilant. After the incident, officials have begun taking the decision of scraping vehicles themselves, if they fail to meet the required safety norms. Bansode adds: “We have deputed a flying squad to check vehicles used for private and public transport. The flying squad works on a daily basis and keeps a tab on the condition of the vehicles. If the vehicle is defective then the documents of the vehicle are withheld and the permit holder is informed about the condition of the vehicle.”
But even as the RTO records highlight the condition of public transport in the city, cab and auto drivers refuse to accept they are at fault. M Rameshwar a taxi driver says: “Earlier we were forced to convert our cab engines to make them CNG compatible. We ended up spending nearly 1.45 lakh overhauling the engines. Today, we are being pulled up for using LPG and CNG. I think this is unfair.”
As for the state of the taxis in the city he says: “It is too expensive to get a loan. A new vehicle needs a new permit, which we cannot afford. Most cabbies try managing with the old vehicle itself.”
a_anita@dnaindia.net
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