Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2010 02:39:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [Arkitect India] PrePaid taxi service of Delhi Police
Friends,
Yesterday, when I and my wife had gone to Delhi for a one-day workshop on governance, when we stepped out of the Airport, I was asked by a person whether I needed a cab. When I said yes, he immediately guided me to a vehicle standing in front of the Domestic Airport. I hardly go out of Lucknow and have not much experience of travelling hence I sat there and asked for the fare to Gurgaon. The man started with Rs. 720 saying that I would also have to pay Rs. 80 extra for the toll tax at the Delhi Haryana border. I said it was too much and the person immediately said that I might pay only Rs. 600, a drop of Rs. 120 in one go. I was going to agree when wife Nutan asked me why I don’t get the fare verified. I was slightly reluctant but fearing that she might get irritated I came out of the vehicle. When I looked around, I saw a Helping booth which I later found belonged to the Delhi Police and provided service for Pre-paid taxi. I went there and found a very-well mannered police officer sitting there. I asked for fare for Sector 44, Gurgaon . He asked for the number of luggage and then told me the fare to be Rs. 360. I immediately paid and got a receipt. We sat in the prepaid taxi.
On my way, I could not resist asking the taxi driver how these unauthorized persons were there right in front of the Airport. His reply was rather curt-“We all know how these vehicles are there. The cop standing next to that vehicle also knows the fact that they shall not be there as they are touts. Yet, no action is being taken against them because the policemen there are their friends.” After this he started blaming the police organization in the usual manner saying that justice was nothing but a dependent on a person’s financial and social position.
I was really impressed by this Pre-paid service being provided by Delhi Police and asked the driver of it was also being provided anywhere else. He said that it was only being provided at the two Airports and Ajmeri gate Railway station. I said that when this was such a beautiful system that was so helpful and safe for the passengers and was a great public service, why was it not extended? He again laughed at me and said that the reason is again the same. The taxi drivers oppose such a move because it will affect their business adversely and the policemen also go by their words because this way they are able to make some extra money.
Without going into the charges made by the taxi driver against the police, which people are so prone to make, I think the following few suggestions might be useful-
1. This arrangement of prepaid taxis might be extended in all big cities, if it is not presently being implemented
2. Again in such cities, it might be implemented at least at all Airport and railway stations.
It is a wonderful system, though it hardly needs any great technical skills. But this system is so much helpful for common people because-
1. The people get taxis at fare rate and cheating stops to great extent
2. The interference of police boosts much of public confidence
3. When the police notes down the vehicle number and the passenger’s name, it generates a very useful record for future reference and for safety
What are your views on this?
Amitabh Thakur
IPS,
Currently at IIM Lucknow
# 94155-34526
