Kolkata to get more taxi booths

In an effort to curb the menace of taxi drivers who refuse passengers, the State’s Transport Department will be launching 50 more taxi booths in the city.

Inaugurating a taxi booth in Garia , State Transport Minister Madan Mitra said the booths would be manned by two representatives of the Progressive Taxi Men’s Association. Every booth will have about 15-20 taxis and a commuter can approach the booth for a taxi for any distance.

“The booths will be operational from August 1 and will be functionfrom 8 a.m. till 10 p.m. This is an attempt to erase the word ‘refusal’ which is frequently associated with taxis. We are trying to make all cabs ‘no refusal’ taxis by the end of this year,” Mr. Mitra said.

The next such booth would be coming up at central Kolkata’s New Market area, he said. As of now, 50 no refusal booths would be set up in the city and in its outskirts. The Progressive Taxi Men’s Association has been entrusted with the responsibility of paying a monthly salary of Rs. 5,000 to those manning the booths.

“There are about 12 taxi bays monitored by the Kolkata Police which work along similar lines as taxi booths. There are already quite a few taxi booths in the city, 20 more will come up before Durga Puja,” Mr. Mitra said.

Mr. Mitra also announced plans of issuing picture identity cards to taxi drivers.

Warning taxi drivers of surprise checks, Mr. Mitra said he would be monitoring the city roads himself to see if taxi drivers were flouting the no refusal norms.

“I have already started checking the roads and until now 40 taxis have been seized.

I will be continuing the exercise till the next two to three weeks and drivers found guilty of refusing passengers would have their permits and driving licenses cancelled.

A fine of Rs. 3,000 is also imposed,” Mr. Mitra said.