Railways makes another bid at getting taxi operator

With call taxis offering competitive rates and a comfortable ride, many commuters arriving in long-distance trains find this mode of transport convenient.

However, the Southern Railway administration has been finding it tough to find a contractor to operate call taxis in Tambaram and Perambur stations.

The railway administration is yet again trying to find operators.

Tenders have been floated for bids from contractors ‘to man and operate call taxi stands’ in Tambaram and Perambur for three years.

Similar tenders had been floated in October last year, but there were no takers, Railways sources recall. This time, Southern Railway has reduced the tender form cost to Rs. 3,488 from the earlier Rs. 5,680 for Tambaram, while it is Rs. 2,392 at Perambur.

Parking lots

In Perambur, Railways has retained 40 square metres of land, whereas in Tambaram, it would be 85 sq.m. on the western side and 105 sq.m. on east as taxi parking lots. The previous contract, which was awarded in 2011, ended in 2014. The prepaid auto system, which was inaugurated last year, too is being neglected, say customers.

Prepaid system

“These autos disappear after 9 p.m. and one has to depend on autos available at the stand nearby. For a drive of 4 kilometres, they charge anything between Rs. 200 and Rs. 250,” said out Nandini Prabhucharan from west Tambaram.

Autorickshaw drivers, who have been operating from the stand around Tambaram railway station for about 30 years, protested Southern Railway’s alleged discrimination in allotting parking slots for call taxis, alleging favouritism to private call taxi operators.

Southern Railway officials however dismissed the allegations that they were biased in a favour of the call taxis and they were acting on demands of the commuters, who preferred a comfortable journey back home after an overnight journey.