Hyderabad: Unauthorised cabs running with impunity

Hyderabad: Illegal cab services appear to be operating with impunity, with an increase in the number of cabs using own-plate (white) number plate vehicles for commercial purposes. Taxi drivers who have commercial (yellow) number plates in the City have alleged negligence by the Transport department authorities in conducting special drives to identify the vehicles that are illegally operating as cabs.

A registered cab driver in the City said that despite the increase in illegal cab services during the festive season and complaining to RTA authorities, no action is being taken to control such activities. "There has been an increase in illegal cab services since the beginning of the festive season. Several taxi and driver's union associations also request authorities to conduct special drives in areas where cabs are parked to hire passengers and seize such vehicles.

Seizing such vehicles will not only help registered cab drivers, but it will also increase the State revenue," said Shaik Salauddin, chairman, Telangana State Taxi and Drivers JAC and Telangana Four-Wheeler Drivers' Association.

He said "there is a significant increase in illegal cab services every festive season, especially in areas like Uppal, LB Nagar, Aramgarh Crossroads, BHEL Crossroad and airport areas where they are hiring passengers," he pointed out.

Cabs plying illegally are not only affecting the business of registered taxi drivers, but are also flouting norms and risking the life of passengers. Lives of passengers who hire these vehicles are at risk because these drivers skip procedures to avoid paying additional road tax and permit charges at check posts.

"The insurance premium for a private vehicle is nearly half of that of commercial transport vehicles. This means that in case of an accident, passengers travelling in such vehicles will not get any claim from insurance firms," Salauddin explained.