Is a helpline enough to solve our woes?

Blame the govt for not giving infrastructure
It would be wrong to say that auto and taxi drivers don’t want to ferry passengers to short distances. On the contrary, they would make profit if they ply within short distances. The main reason for a driver refusing is the lack of parking space. There is shortage of parking space in many areas in the city and police fines a driver even if he parks for a minute to let their commuter get off.

One must remember that drivers come from a poor financial background; therefore, their main aim is to make profit. No driver has ever complained against any passenger. What is saddening is that the government is making laws for drivers without even realising what the real issue is. In 1999, there were 1,600 taxi stands available, but now it is barely 450. So one can imagine the amount of problem a driver faces every day when he has to wait for his passengers. Moreover, I am surprised with government’s talk that they will turn Mumbai’s transportation scenario like the one in Singapore. How it is possible when they are not even looking at installing basic infrastructure on the roads?
AL Quadros, president, taxi union

Police threats do not work
I will use this number as I’m tired of auto and cab drivers refusing to take us to our desired location. If the government has a proper system to handle it, it will be helpful. I have had varied experience travelling by autos. It’s bad when after a stressful day at work, you don’t get any auto. It adds to the frustration. Autowallahs do not even fear the threat of police complaints. So you don’t know how to tackle their arrogance. But the experience is good as some of them are cooperative. And they don’t even have valid reasons for refusing. 
Urvi Joshi, Sr consultant

Was left stranded on the highway
It would be unfair to label all auto or cab drivers as non-co-operative. For instance, once when I was going to Worli the taxi driver was polite and spoke in English. He even said, “Have a nice day” when I paid him. Having said that, my worst nightmare came true when I was stranded on the highway on June 14, I had to walk to Oberoi Mall from the highway because all rickshawallas refused to ply. The rickshaw guy who took me to Goregaon lied and said his rickshaw wasn’t working and left me stranded.
Roanna Fernandes, Jr content writer

Taxi drivers are opportunists
I wait for almost half-an-hour every day outside my office in Matunga and ask around 20 cabs before one agrees to take me to Bandra. A day after the strike was called off, I managed to find one cab after waiting for almost 30 minutes. When asked him to go to Matunga, he agreed but asked for Rs100. On a normal day, the fare is Rs35. But after arguing, I had to give in to his demand as it was pouring.  I’m happy with the new complaint number. Also, I think licences of errant drivers should be cancelled.
Chandni Tolani, media professional

Some days I have had to walk home
My experiences with auto and taxi drivers have been neutral —some are helpful whereas others cunning. Till a few years ago, auto and cab drivers never made a fuss, and were ready to ferry across the city. But of late, the scene has changed, they are the bosses now. One has to beg them to take us to a destination. I think the reason for this has been the increase in population and drivers now like to ply only in those areas where they will get high fare. I’ve not had a horrible plight as such but there have been times when I’ve had to walk home.
Yash Sethna, student

Most rejections from autowallahs
I will use the number, provided it gets connected and auto drivers take this seriously as a threat. The experience so far has been bad. Every day I have to wait for at least one auto that will to take me to Andheri-Link Road. They decide on the journey as per their whims and fancies. And if they do take you, the meter speeds up like Schumacher speeds in his races. My worst experience with the autos is that I get at least 15 rejections every day in the morning and another 20 in the evening.
Junita Bhatia, brand manager

Taxi drivers have their own tale of woes

I have been cheated by passengers
I don’t mind plying to nearby locations even if it fetches me the minimum fare. I have been cheated many a times by passengers who take me to secluded areas and refuse to pay. Sometimes I refuse to go to a place because there is no parking space to wait for the passenger and hence have to keep the taxi running which burns more fuel and leads to loss.       
KK Mishra

People have wrong perceptions
I never refuse to ply anywhere in the city. It’s my source of livelihood. Some taxi drivers might avoid or refuse to go on  short routes or avoid a few areas but that doesn’t mean all of us do it. If that was the case, how would anyone reach their destination? People have a wrong perception about all of us. This needs to change.   
Kauleshwar Yadav