By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Complaints against local taxi drivers on rude behaviour and overcharging is a thing of the past, but the same discourteousness is now noticed in the drivers of Shillong Supplementary public transport services (SSPTS) or the red maxi cabs.
Though the much-hyped maxi taxis managed to receive a round of applause in the recent months from a large section of people it did not last long after commuters started complaining of overcharging and rude behaviour of the maxi cab drivers.
“Many a times, I have heard people complaining about overcharging by drivers of these maxi cabs and recently, I experienced the same situation whereby a driver charged Rs 10 from Last Stop till Rhino point which is absurd”, a young lady from Last Stop complained.
While expressing anguish and disappointment over such behaviour, the young lady said when asked for change, the driver simply refused to give citing lack of change.
“I said, I am going to complain and the driver, with a loud voice shouted at me and said I don’t care if you complain to anybody”, she said.
Meanwhile, commuters with the same problem stated that these drivers has become more or less like the local taxi drivers which was not expected.
“If the conductors of the SPTS buses can return back Rs 5, then why can’t the maxi cab drivers”, one disappointed commuter lambasted.
Citing one of the reasons behind this rude behaviour, one elderly local said it could perhaps be the non-issuance of tickets by the maxi cabs.
“They can simply get away with this as they are not entitled to issue tickets like the SPTS buses”, he said.
When apprised of the situation, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) T Lyngwa said that the board can only take action against such erring drivers if they receive concrete complaints from commuters in black and white.
“Rates per distance has been displayed on the front portion of the maxi taxis and commuters are supposed to comply according to the rate but if drivers are overcharging beyond the mentioned rate, people should come forward and register their complaints and actions will be taken against those drivers”, he said.