Mumbai:
Whoever said Mumbai's iconic black and yellow taxis will be a thing of the past! Later this year, you can take a cool ride in regular black-and-yellow taxis fitted with ACs, by paying just 10% more than the regular fare.
Not ready to take a beating at the hands of its swank new counterparts, the regular taxi is all ready to make a comeback, in an all-new avatar -- the semi-cool cab.
If all goes well, the black and yellows will be fitted with ACs soon. You may ask the driver to put on the AC if the heat is on or you can even opt for a regular ride. And with the AC ride costing only 10 per cent of the regular fare, its sure to give the expensive radio and cool cabs a run for their money.
A L Quadros, general secretary, Mumbai Taximens Union, said, "We have sent a proposal to the transport authority asking for the permission to run semi-cool cabs. Hopefully, we will have more than 10,000 such cabs on the road by December end. In the semi-cool cab the AC can be switched on and off, according to the passengers comforts with only 10 per cent extra charge."
Interestingly, it will still cost 15 per cent lesser than the cool cabs. According to member of the Taximens Union, there are only 5,000 cool cabs in the city and the demand is much higher. But once the semi-cool cabs get a go ahead, most of the 20,000 regular taxis will be fitted with an AC.
To stand out from the rest, the black and yellow taxi may even change colours, quite literally. "We are thinking for a new colour for the semi-cool cabs, but in case that doesnt happens, we will paint a strip of may be red onto the regular taxi. This will help passengers identify the cab easily," said Quadros.
Laxman Ghadge, a cool cab driver from Mulund, said, "I have no problem with this proposal. I have a regular bunch of passengers that I ferry. Those who use and have experienced the cool cab ride will rarely travel in the semi-cool ones."
However, not all the drivers agree. A cool cab driver from Kandivli, said,"We don't have too many takers and the situation will only worsen once semi-cool cabs will take to the roads."
11 lakh people use taxis in Mumbai every day. Mumbaikars give it a thumbs up and say the semi-cool cab will be a hit.
Priyanka Mehta from Andheri said, "This is a very nice proposal and I hope it gets accepted. Many a times we want to go for a comfortable ride, but can't find one even if we are ready to pay more."
Neha Purav, a Kandivli resident can't wait for the day the semi-cool cab will make an entry. "We need such cabs, especially during the monsoon and the summers. Taking your car to work every day is not feasible, but such cabs will give you all the comfort."
Not ready to take a beating at the hands of its swank new counterparts, the regular taxi is all ready to make a comeback, in an all-new avatar -- the semi-cool cab.
If all goes well, the black and yellows will be fitted with ACs soon. You may ask the driver to put on the AC if the heat is on or you can even opt for a regular ride. And with the AC ride costing only 10 per cent of the regular fare, its sure to give the expensive radio and cool cabs a run for their money.
A L Quadros, general secretary, Mumbai Taximens Union, said, "We have sent a proposal to the transport authority asking for the permission to run semi-cool cabs. Hopefully, we will have more than 10,000 such cabs on the road by December end. In the semi-cool cab the AC can be switched on and off, according to the passengers comforts with only 10 per cent extra charge."
Interestingly, it will still cost 15 per cent lesser than the cool cabs. According to member of the Taximens Union, there are only 5,000 cool cabs in the city and the demand is much higher. But once the semi-cool cabs get a go ahead, most of the 20,000 regular taxis will be fitted with an AC.
To stand out from the rest, the black and yellow taxi may even change colours, quite literally. "We are thinking for a new colour for the semi-cool cabs, but in case that doesnt happens, we will paint a strip of may be red onto the regular taxi. This will help passengers identify the cab easily," said Quadros.
Laxman Ghadge, a cool cab driver from Mulund, said, "I have no problem with this proposal. I have a regular bunch of passengers that I ferry. Those who use and have experienced the cool cab ride will rarely travel in the semi-cool ones."
However, not all the drivers agree. A cool cab driver from Kandivli, said,"We don't have too many takers and the situation will only worsen once semi-cool cabs will take to the roads."
11 lakh people use taxis in Mumbai every day. Mumbaikars give it a thumbs up and say the semi-cool cab will be a hit.
Priyanka Mehta from Andheri said, "This is a very nice proposal and I hope it gets accepted. Many a times we want to go for a comfortable ride, but can't find one even if we are ready to pay more."
Neha Purav, a Kandivli resident can't wait for the day the semi-cool cab will make an entry. "We need such cabs, especially during the monsoon and the summers. Taking your car to work every day is not feasible, but such cabs will give you all the comfort."
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