Taximen stick to their "stand"

MUMBAI, MARCH 11: THE week-long impasse between taxi drivers and the military police was resolved today after army authorities agreed to consider the union’s demands for allowing more taxi stands in Navy Nagar.The trouble began on March 5 when a taxi driver was allegedly beaten by a military policeman in Navy Nagar after which the Mumbai taximen’s union threatened to stop plying their vehicles in the military area.

Matters were resolved after a meeting between army Provost Marshal Lt Col Ratan Singh and representatives of the Mumbai Taximen’s Union led by A L Quadros, at the army headquarters this morning. Earlier today, taximen held a demonstration outside Backbay bus depot in Colaba and taxis refused to enter the Navy Nagar area.“Misgivings of taximen such as charges of alleged unruly behaviour or manhandling were removed at today’s meeting and the taximen were assured of continued cordiality by the military authorities,” Defence PRO Commander R C Gupta said. He said the taximen were however told toabide by the traffic regulations in the military area and that the request of taximen’s representatives for additional parking area would be reviewed by the authorities. However, there was no question of an apology as no manhandling ever took place, Gupta said.

However, taxi drivers say they are being harassed and even assaulted by military policemen. “While the traffic police only take away our license, the military police detain us and punish us by making us sit on our haunches,” said a taxi driver. This was refuted by a military policeman who said that the area was governed by rules which were often flouted by taxi drivers. “We have many cases of parking violations and of cabs exceeding the number of permitted vehicles per stand for which we detain the vehicles and drivers for a while.” The military-administered area presently has about 4 taxi stands where not more than five taxis are permitted.

“There are at least 150 taxis entering Navy Nagar every day. We need at least 10 stands with acapacity for 50 taxis,” Quadros said.