Cops to carry out four-level checks on taxi drivers

“At the meeting, we decided to compare the data about taxi drivers that we are collecting against four databases. We will first compare it with records available at each police station, then with the Crime Branch’s data about arrested, booked or convicted persons for the entire city, and subsequently with the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB),” said a senior officer with the Mumbai Police.

The officer added that drivers in the city had been divided into three categories; yellow top taxi drivers, private taxi drivers working with fleet operators and tourist vehicles, which take fares to outstation trips as well as provide pick up and drop services to private companies. It was decided at the meeting to examine the last two categories first.

“Apart from RTOs, we will also be seeking help from private taxi service operators and taximen’s unions to collect the data. The process of data collation is still underway,” said another officer.

Additional Commissioner (Crime) KMM Prasanna added, “We have computerised records of all persons who have been arrested, convicted or even booked since 2010, and we will be comparing the data against our records.” The police are also pondering the practical possibility of verifying the addresses provided by taxi drivers while obtaining permits or badges from the RTOs, in order to find out if the addresses are authentic, for at least those addresses that are within Mumbai city limits.

gautam.mengle@expressindia.com