Thiruvananthapuram: Hoping to put an end to the continuing conflict between conventional taxi drivers and application-based cab services, authorities at the Trivandrum
International Airport have decided to allot designated spaces for the latter. There had been frequent complaints from passengers about the tussle between taxi drivers and drivers of
cab aggregators at the airport.
Because of fleecing by autorickshaw drivers and prepaid taxis, app-based cab services are in great demand at the airport.
Airport Authority of India (AAI) will provide space for facilitation counter and pickup points for cab aggregators at both domestic and international terminals of the
airport for a period of three years. Cab aggregators will be provided parking space for five vehicles in front of the terminals.
AAI has floated a tender in this regard, inviting aggregators. They expect that majors in the sector, Uber and Ola, will respond to tenders.
The counter for cab aggregators will be set up at the arrival hall adjacent to the customs area in international terminal and at arrival area near the temporary counter of pre-paid taxi union, outside the terminal building. And the boarding space for passengers has been marked at the arrival area of the terminal.
At domestic terminal (T1), space for counter will be allotted at arrival hall adjacent to the check-in baggage collection area and in front of terminal building. Parking space will be provided near police aid post inside the car parking area, ensuring safety of passengers.
A similar tender has been invited by railways for awarding licence to operate app-based call taxi services at eight stations under Thiruvananthapuram railway division, including Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kochuveli, Kazhakkoottam, Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam North, Tripunithura, Aluva and Thrissur.
On experimental basis, railways had allotted space for app-based cab services on three months’ contract. After some altercation reported between drivers of app-based cab service and taxi drivers at Thiruvananthapuram Central, the agency that had received the tender, did not renew the contract.
Meanwhile, the taxi drivers operating services at the airport said that they have filed complaints with trade union leaders against the decision of AAI to allot space for app-based cab aggregators. There are 367 odd taxi drivers operating service at the airport prepaid taxi counter.
“Our revenue has declined drastically in the past few years, after cab aggregators started operating from the airport premises. With the introduction of FlyBus service of KSRTC from inside the terminal, each driver at the counter gets only two to three trips every day. Earlier we got more than five trips. The collective of taxi drivers has decided to convene a meeting to discuss about the issue,” said Joseph Fernandez, a taxi driver.
