The Maxi Cabs will soon officially ply on the state roads as the department of public transport is in favour of legalising them despite strong opposition from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
The committee on Tuesday, February 9, gave the state public transport corporation an option to let maxi-cabs run on the routes on which it does not ply its buses. It suggested that the routes could be regulated so that the corporation does not suffer financial losses.
Moreover, the committee also agreed in principle to recommend the reduction in passenger tax by at least seven per cent to help public transport company in bringing down existing bus fare. Maxi Cabs are light motor vehicles that carry between seven and 10 passengers, and they ply on fixed routes as per fare fixed by the government. At present, more than four lakh maxi-cabs ply illegally in the state.
The state government has been trying to get Maxi Cabs on roads since 1999. However, the MSRTC has been opposing this since they fear that ST buses along with other public transports might suffer a huge loss.
In 2001, the ST Corporation had called a strike against Maxi Cabs. At the time, the proposal was kept on hold and the state government then formed a committee.
The committee had reported that these cab services would be fatal to other services including ST. After that, the government did not approve. But now there is a strong movement to bring Maxi Cabs again. Some companies have responded positively to the Department of Transportation.
The current format of the MaxiCab service
1. Maxi Cabs are small vehicles of the seven to 10 seater vehicles, whereas air-conditioned maxi Cabs can carry up to 12 passengers
2. These vehicles run illegally in talukas and rural areas of the state.
3. There was also punitive action against such unauthorized persons.
4. They are not licensed by RTO.
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