Red tape delays pre-paid cab proposal for airport

According to police personnel posted at the airport, there is often a shortage of cabs at the airport particularly when several flights arrive simultaneously. “By the time we arrange for cabs, the passengers would have usually gone to the main road in search of transport,” a police official said.

Since the registration numbers of taxis plying on the main road is not noted, it is impossible for the police to track down errant cabbies, police officials said.

General secretary of the Bombay Taximen’s Union A L Quadros however felt that the traffic pattern at Santa Cruz could affect the implementation of the proposal. “Unlike the international terminal, passengers arriving at Santa Cruz come out in groups and disperse very quickly.

Most do not want to wait in queues to pre-pay their fares,” Quadros said. He said the Regional Transport Authority also feels that most passengers arriving at Santa Cruz are frequent visitors to Mumbai and seem able to tackle errant cabbies.