By Ngahiwot Khonglah
Many will be surprised with the title of this article but if one pauses a while one will realise that we don’t and never had a taxi service except for those plying outside the State. We only have passenger vehicles such as big buses, medium sized ones, smaller ones and three wheelers. Even the two wheelers like Rapido are under trial or still being conceptualized. Now what is a taxi? It is a car with a driver that takes us to our destination of choice on a price agreed upon or as per the rate regulated by the authority depending on the mileage travelled. Going by the above definition all those means of transport in our State called “taxis” don’t fit the criteria. They are more like small buses. A bus travels on a pre-destined route and ferries many passengers at a time and charges a comparatively lesser fare. I strongly believe that this is the right time to introduce taxis since social distancing will be part of our lives which everyone has to maintain even when the lockdown is relaxed or lifted. Till a vaccine is found and is ready to be used on humans (which is not going to be anytime soon) social distancing will be a part of our lives.
Many times and for many years we grumbled about the so-called ‘taxis’ not taking passengers to their destination of choice but to wherever the driver wishes to. This way, waiting to get a ride to our destination is a painful wait and we have to stand for hours on the road trying our luck on every yellow cab passing. In my first hand experience, after a frustrated one hour struggle telling one taxi after another where I wanted to go and then getting a negative reply from several cabbies, I turned the tables on them by asking ….Where are you going? The guy was caught by surprise! (Frustrated, I walked home that evening). The argument given is whether anyone can ride in a taxi for Rs 10? None! And with the price index of everything rising I wonder how these guys survive? And the service provided compared to the fare charged is reasonable! So no complaints!
Taxis are meant for people who can pay and who value time as money. As the saying goes, “There is always an opportunity in any situation; it only needs to be found.” This lockdown is the right time to bring reforms which cannot be brought about in normal days. The Government should take this opportunity of introducing taxis in our state and Shillong in particular. This will not only help the people to commute faster and more comfortably but it will definitely ease traffic congestion since many cabs will not move without a passenger. I would presume as usual that any change into something new will have some opposition, but it is the Government who with a sincere motive should lead the way.
To those drivers/owners who oppose the idea I like to narrate my experience while travelling from Motphran to Mawlai on a shared taxi charging Rs 10 each from 5 persons with a total income of Rs 50. I had boarded the cab and told the driver that I was willing to pay Rs 50 for the journey since I was in a hurry so he need not wait any longer. The gentleman refused and preferred instead to wait for 4 more passengers which ended him earning the same amount of Rs 50 carrying 5 persons than just one! Amazing right? Now the authorities have instructed that only one passenger could sit in the front seat with the driver while two other passengers could sit in the rear seat. This would further reduce the taxi driver’s income to Rs 30. How can the cabbies survive? The truth is, the Government’s red cab (or small bus I may say) under JNNURM are the most overloaded compared to all other transport. I once asked the driver why he carried so many passengers? His reply was that there are many owners of these vehicles; they include the Government, the contractors, the sub contractors and the sub-sub contractors and us. That’s pretty mind-boggling right?
So let’s come back to the government side of the story. All permits issued to this so-called ‘taxi’ is not that it should ply on a shared basis but that it should run on full capacity and charge accordingly. With the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing being mandatory, it is in public interest that the Government and the Transport Department in particular to (1) put a small colour code for taxis which can be hired and (2) mandatorily fit a meter for the charges to be applied. This will not only be profitable for the driver and owner but with smart phones and GPS in our hands this will stop passengers, especially tourists from paying more than they should be paying. If the Government is really serious on promoting tourism, this should be the first step forward. I am optimistic that this is a win-win change for everyone. The passengers get a cab to the destination of choice, pays for the service and the car will not move unless it is hired and gets paid (which is more profitable). This in turn helps in limiting the number of vehicles plying on the road at the same time and same destinations.
There are many who love the idea but it requires that the Government should take the lead. There’s no need to force those who don’t want to change but it’s important to provide an opportunity to those who want to change to a better world. Perhaps with some encouraging schemes for cabbies that are ready to start; the way I see it, there’s nothing to lose.
