Taxi Fare Hike: App-based call taxi fares soared by 50-100% in several parts of the city on Monday as a section of call taxis started their two-day strike demanding regularization of cab aggregators and some other demands. Although autorickshaws continued to ply as usual, fares remained normal till noon but later increased significantly.
Call taxi associations also demanded closure of bike taxi operations and implementation of a licensing system for cab aggregators under the Central Motor Vehicles Act. Residents found it difficult to get cabs in the eastern and southern parts of the city, especially to places like Tidal Park, Perungudi, Sholinganallur, Semmanjeri, Perungalathur and Perumbakkam. S Vishal from Thiruvanmiyur said he had to wait for more than an hour to get a cab to Perumbakkam. “The fare was Rs 250 more than usual, and I finally took an autorickshaw.”
T Mannai Kumar of Ambattur said, “Due to shortage of vehicles the cab fare from Korattur to Taramani Law College reached Rs 800. The fare is usually Rs 350 to 400.’ The strike was called by the Federation of All Taxi Drivers Union, which comprises 12 associations including CITU-affiliated Tamil Nadu Call Taxi Workers Union and Road Transport Workers Union. The federation claimed that about 80 percent of the CABs took part in the strike.
M Bhupathi, president of Tamil Nadu Call Taxi Workers Union, said that despite the central government amending the Central Act in 2019, cab aggregators are operating without any regulation. “The total share of commission of the aggregator should be limited to less than 10-12% of the cab fares from the existing 28-30%. Bike taxis have been completely banned in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
But, only Tamil Nadu allows it, although there is no legal provision for riding bikes under contract carriage permit.’ Officials said a proposal to introduce a licensing system for cab aggregators has already been sent to the government. “The orders will be announced while fixing the fare for autorickshaws,” an official said.
