Kolkata: The Howrah City Police carried out a sustained drive around Howrah Station for the past two weeks, trying to rein in touts and ease the flow of traffic in the area. The police have so far arrested 13 touts and started an FIR against them at the Golabari Police Station.
"We received multiple complaints about a section of touts operating near the Yatri Sathi booth outside both the old and new complexes. They would take the luggage of unsuspecting passengers and then persuade them to board the cab. However, once seated, they demanded fares that were way above Yatri Sathi fares, sometimes far higher than AC app cab services too. Hence, we began special drives and nabbed 13 of them. We even took a couple of accused into police custody to find out their actual motive," said Sujata Kumari Veenapani, DC (Traffic).
Sources said they also received reports of passengers being forced into private cars instead of cabs by these touts. "While the major trouble is over, more such drives are needed to completely rein in the situation. We are setting up police kiosks and requesting more people to report such instances to us so that we can take action," said another officer.
In special focus is the new complex that handles trains from southeastern railways and witnesses several late-night arrivals and departures, including Vande Bharat and Shatabdi trains. "We understand that there is now pressure early in the morning, and hence we are keeping an early morning deployment. At all times of the day, one officer – along with civic volunteers – will assist passengers in booking cabs (in case there is no smartphone with them) and in tracking them down in the parking lot.
Commissioner Praveen Tripathi has also asked all his officers to try and de-clutter the parking lots. "While the drop-off and pick-up points have long been demarcated for cabs, we are trying to ensure that movement for all forms of cabs remains one-way – they will enter one way and return in a circular movement. There will be no scope to reverse the car," said a senior officer.
DC Veenapani said that those having trouble with app cabs – the main issue being charged the parking fee even though it is added to the original fare – can approach the police and lodge their complaints. The police said that they are also checking CCTV footage to ascertain that there is discipline around the parking lots outside the Howrah Station complex.