Bhubaneswar: Autorickshaw drivers in the city have prohibited entry of online-based taxi cabs to certain public places much to discomfiture of commuters in the city.
A commuter books a Uber cab from Inox BMC mall to reach her house, but the cab driver refuses to come near the mall and instead asks her to walk to the cab, a few metres away.
The reason: The auto drivers are opposed to entry of cabs anywhere near the Sahid Nagar BMC mall which is supposed to be “exclusive business arena of autorickshaws”. Nay, none has officially drawn a boundary line demarcating jurisdiction for the autos. It is, in a way, the “auto-cratic” monopoly of the union which is governed more by impulse than reason.
There are places in city where hooliganism of auto drivers has been reported. Cops authorised to rein in unruly elements ignore the highhandedness of auto drivers as it is believed, khakis are in the pay rolls of auto drivers.
“Auto drivers don’t allow our entry to Master Canteen, ITR College, KIIT Campus, Infocity Chowk, Big Bazar and Apollo Hospital premises. Although we drop a passenger at these drop points, we can’t pick them up. That’s the unwritten order,” says Uber cab driver Santosh Nayak.
“If we go to these places, auto drivers offer resistance. They snatch our phones and vandalise our vehicles. That’s why we request passengers to walk down about 200 metres,” he adds.
However, an auto driver at Bhawani mall says, ‘‘If we allow taxis to pick up our passengers, who will hire autorickshaws? We’ll soon be jobless. Hence, our union has decided to not allow any app-based taxi service here.’’
Recently, a commuter faced a piquant issue at Bhawani Mall due to a professional rift between auto and cab drivers.
“I booked a Uber cab from Bhawani mall but the driver told me to walk for 200 metres as the auto drivers would not let him pick me from the spot. When I insisted that he pick me from the spot or otherwise I will complain to the company, he agreed to come to the spot,” said Monalisa, a commuter.
“When the cab reached Bhawani mall gate, some auto drivers stopped him and snatched his vehicle key. They started manhandling the cab driver and created a scene. Later, locals intervened and helped us go from the spot,” added Monalisa.
When contacted, Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said in such a situation, the company or cab driver can lodge a complaint with the nearest police station. We will take appropriate action.”
Kuldeep Singh Kaundal, OP
