Maharashtra govt developing app for black & yellow taxis

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government planned to develop a cab hailing app in three months for black- and- yellow taxis on the lines of the services provided by private aggregators like Ola and Uber,Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday.

The measure was meant to help the black-and-yellow taxi operators facing stiff competition from the cab hailing services, especially in Mumbai and other major cities.

Fandavis disclosed this while responding to a query by Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde, Hemant Takle (NCP) and other members in the Legislative Council.

Takle said that after app-based cab aggregators came into the picture the business of black-and-yellow taxi drivers had been hit and sought to know if the Government could take some steps to ensure their survival.

Munde said that private cab hailing services enabled the users to track locations besides providing easy services, and asked when would the government bring in such an App for black-and-yellow taxis.

To this, Fadnavis said, "the government is in the process of developing an electronic platform for black-and- yellow taxis similar to that of cab aggregators. It will provide services similar to those given by cab aggregators. This app will be launched in three months."

Kiran Pawaskar (NCP) said cab aggregators survived across the world due to the low costs they charge from customers, cleanliness and manners of their cabs and drivers as well as tracking facility.

"On the other hand, black and yellow taxi drivers do not wear uniforms, do not behave properly and often refuse to ferry customers. They do not provide proper service and would hold people to ransom anytime. Will they be asked to adhere to rules ?" he asked.

Transport Minister Diwakar Raote said black-and-yellow taxi drivers would themselves have to deal with issues like good manners and cleanliness to boost their business and survive the competition.

He said taxi unions could help them in addressing these issues.

Raote also said the government was mulling to provide AC services to customers of black and yellow taxi drivers who had taken new cars to bring them at par with hailing services already in the field.