KOCHI: Southern Railway has made it clear that no special privilege has been accorded to authorised taxi operators and local auto-rickshaw operators at railway stations. The announcement came in the wake the recent attack on a Uber taxi driver and misbehaviour with a woman passenger, allegedly by traditional taxi operators, at the Ernakulam South railway station.
Following the incident, Kochi Range IG S Sreejith held a meeting with the autorickshaw drivers’ union in the city, and assured strict action against the errant cabbies. “The police have registered case in connection with the alleged attack on the Uber driver. On Friday, the police will hold a meeting with employees and management of Uber,” said the IG. Railways informed that an initiative to introduce permit system for autorickshaw operators at the Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Aluva stations was mooted, it was scrapped due to opposition from various quarters.
“No exclusive right has been accorded to operators of ‘permitted taxis’ and local autorickshaw operators for serving passengers on railway station premises, even if they are attached to the prepaid counters. Passengers should contact the local police or the Railway Police if they face any trouble from auto/taxi drivers,” said a statement from Southern Railway.
Railways has accorded permit to taxi(car) operators at the Thiruvananthapuram Central, Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town stations. “Though permit fee is collected from taxi operators for parking on railway station premises, it does promise any exclusive right to them. If drivers of permitted taxis are found to be misbehaving with passengers, the station manager/deputy station manager (commercial) of the respective railway stations should be informed,” said the statement. If found guilty, Railways would take strong action against the taxi operator, including cancellation of parking permit.