It’s raining heavily, you are getting late.. you call one rickshawalah.. he denies saying  he is not interested.. you ask 2nd one.. he also says the same thing.. ..
I am pretty sure that each and everyone of you must have come across this kind of situation at some point of time . What most of we do here is just shout at the rickshawalah and curse this government for not having any rule to stop these guys behaving badly.
BUT hold on, there is already a rule for this but very few of us know about it. Rickshaw drivers or Taxi drivers CANNOT refuse to ply. They cannot overcharge you. And if they do, you can simply complain traffic police guys.
COMPLAIN!!!! I know, it is pain but only when we do not know how to lodge the complaint.
You can lodge the complaint in following ways:
If the traffic police officer is present at the spot, Inform the traffic police on duty. He will confiscate his license on the spot.
Write to local RTO authorities. (via Snail mail)
Email.. YES.. Email traffic police by filling up the form here or you can email them directly here. Just make sure that you email them in format specified on their online form.
Before lodging the complaint, you must have following information:
– Vehicle number of the rickshaw or taxi
– Date, time and place of the occurrence
– And yea, this will be an add-on – just see if you can remember the face of the guy roughly. This is not mandatory at all but it might be helpful if local traffic police guys call you to recognize the driver’s face. (They did ask me)
Okay, time for some quick questions:
1: Does it work?
– Yes, It DOES WORK. But you have to email them on the same day of incident. I had mailed them about 3 incidents. 2 were happened on earlier date and 1 was on same day. I got response with complaint number within a day for latter one and did not get reply for first 2 complaints. out of other 2, I got reply for 1 saying, they have fined the taxi driver and confiscated his license. But I would suggest, it is always better to email them on the same day for quicker response.
2: So what after that? How do we know that if they have taken the action or not?
– I was also confused about it till yesterday but a call from local traffic police chowki solved my doubt. I got a call from them today asking me about confirmation of the complaint and they have confiscated his license.
3: How much time does it take for the whole thing?
– I had emailed them on 2nd July, I got their reply on 3rd and today on 12th, I got call from local traffic police confirming that they have got the driver’s incense.
Okay, I am ending this lengthy post now. So, from next time, agar kisi ricksha wale ne na bola to (if any rickshaw refuses to ply, then) … don’t forget to note his vehicle number and lodge the complaint on the same day.
Note: This post is mainly for Mumbaikars but I am sure other cities must be having almost same kind of procedures.
I had heard about this when I was in Manglore that auto rickshaw guys can’t refuse to take us. But I never knew it was applicable to other places I will check it up if its there here in Chennai because if I am right we have some other good services here too.
wow ! Didn’t know Mumbai police is so efficient ! Taking action on complaints received through emails :O
I would advise discretion in complaining against them. Don’t complain against each and every one who refuses.
Please remember that some times it is financially unviable for them to ply on the route you want them to take. After all even they have families to look after. They also have to stand in queue for hours to fill up their gas and most of them are not the owners of vehicles. They have to return the vehicle back on time to the owner otherwise pay penalties.
Take a judgement on whether to really complain or not and whether the errant driver really deserves that treatment. I would give them benefit of doubt at most times. 🙂
In 3 days, 4-5 guys told me no.. I complained only for 3.. because 1st one said, barish gir raha hai, i am getting wet…2nd one said.. nahi jaana hai.. I want to go straight.. 3rd one said.. I don’t want to come, do whatever you want, RTO kya uska baap bhi kuch nahi kar sakta…
My dad had gone to VT, he wanted to catch taxi from VT to KC college.. 10 guys said no.. while returning also same thing happened.. they had to walk down from KC college to VT..
In most of the cases, rickshaw drivers or tax drivers, deny blatantly, they behave rudely.. and they are not supposed to talk like this.. so to make them aware lodging the complaint is the best way according to me..
I am not at all against lodging complaints! Some of them really needs to be pulled up for their sick behaviour.
But just exercise some discretion. Take a humanitarian approach. Don’t pull the trigger too soon just because you can!
Yups, I too do the same.. when the things go extreme.. then only I complaint.. otherwise I don’t
Yep.. I knew this rule existed. Just didn’t know the various ways to report it.
But I agree with Ashish. Those who really have reasons are OK, but some of hem really goto the nerves. I usually have nice fights with these guys ( verbal of kors 😀 )
I am from malad, so abhi tak toh keval auto walon se paala pada hain. But its not less. The best thing to do is, just go and sit inside. If they refuse, don’t move your ass. I don’t. Take the bloody auto to the police chowky, only then I’ll get off.
No kidding.
Agree with ashish. And you can figure out an errant auto driver in seconds just by talking to him. They deserve proper treatment. However a vast majority or autowalas are very friendly.
i knew the rule that they can not say no to anyone… i had once asked a traffic police at colaba to take complaint for the taxi which refused to come till CST, the taxi was standing on opposite side of road.. and the cop told me that he was on special duty and was asked not to leave his spot at signal … instead.. he gave me advise to catch “sharing cab” from gateway of india.. (which is illigal too) i chose to walk instead making complaints against both the cabbie and cop… the cab driver told me that, i can file complain against him and i will have to come to identify him in court… which would cost me a day off at my workplace.. !!!!
i wasnt sure if the traffic police dept would work on the complaints filed by ppl… but this email system seems tobe working.. so now i will atleast have one cab and couple of auto guys caught… they are not tolerable..
maximum of cabs in town want a long distance fare.. they rarely say yes for 13rs fare.. they deserve no humanitarian approach..
[…] related to the behavior of rickshawalahs in Mumbai. I have also posted something on the same lines here. But my article covers more about rules and ways to complaint against these […]
auto ricksha no.mh 02 ta 6617. rash driving, signal breaking, & fighting on road at s.v.road near bata show room kandivli(west).piyush shah.
If the auto rickshaw is in a que / rick stand / standing near a mall or office, etc. and then your request is denied, that’s the trigger point.