Date:22/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/22/stories/2006042206540200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Radio taxi is the preferred option

Special Correspondent

More and more Bangaloreans are dialling for a taxi

Bangalore: Not only the affluent or those in a hurry who are now using radio taxis, popularly called "city taxis". It has much to do with the rising personal income and the difficulties of driving long distances. Close to 1,500 radio-equipped taxis on city roads now.

From the late 1990s, Bangalore like many other cities, witnessed an explosion of intra-city travel needs among individuals and corporates. Radio communication of a limited range became accessible for private and commercial use, and the new mode of transport, radio taxi service, came into being.

Close to a score of radio taxi companies now operate but those affiliated to the Karnataka Radio City Taxi Association, which has call centres and control rooms, dominate the scene. Another is Spot City Taxi Pvt. Ltd., a self-employment venture by a group of educated youths. The name itself is an acronym for Self- employment Programme for Organised Transport.

Most of its affiliated now own and drive their taxis with a common name and call number.

Initially, only those in the IT and BPO sectors used radio taxis, with an occasional rail or bus passenger arriving at odd hours calling for a taxi.

Most Bangaloreans rarely hailed a radio taxi when other options, less expensive and easier to call on the roadsides, were available.

Taxi operators say this has changed over the last two years due to factors like large incomes, more tourist inflow and the availability of a radio taxi within minutes after calling control rooms. The round-the-clock availability with meter fares appeals to those looking for value for money. The control rooms now track the vehicles moving around at night with regular calls that have to be answered by taxi drivers.

Francis Alphonse, Managing Director of Spot, says: "Our 354 vehicles are all owned by drivers who include some graduates and postgraduates who earn more than they would have from salaried work. "We encourage only those who are honest, punctual, polite and don't drive rashly. We have a 24-hour tracking system because many taxis run throughout the night''.

Tourists are now using radio taxis not just at railway stations and bus stations or at airport but also for visiting places such as the ISKCON temple since the taxis wait for them there. For those travelling on business to the information technology firms around Whitefield and Sarjapur Road, the taxis come handy because they cannot easily get transport in those areas. More people within the city are using them to run urgent errands and even to go to shopping malls located far from their houses. Radio taxi owners have one grouse. The fares were fixed in 2001 with Rs. 35 for the first four km and Rs. 9 for every additional km.

They would like it increased to around Rs. 60 for the first stage and Rs. 12 per km, considering the steep increase in fuel prices.

The Transport Department is said to be considering their request. Even when the fares go up, those who value safety and reliability may continue to use the radio taxis.