In an attempt to deal with the issue of refusals for service by taxi drivers, the Maharashtra Transport Department has issued a notification asking all the kaali-peeli drivers to necessarily install rooftop indicators on new ‘black-and-yellow’ taxis registered in Mumbai from February 1.
As per the notification issued by the department, the colour-coded indicators would signal if the cab is free or occupied or unavailable for service.
Based on the experience of taxis, the date of installing rooftop indicators in new auto-rickshaws will be decided,” Transport commissioner Shekhar Channe stated while speaking at a Road Safety Week function.
The new taxis will have to get indicators pre-installed since day one. The one registered before February 1 will require to get them installed during the fitness certification process at their respective regional transport offices (RTOs).
While the deadline for kaali-peelis in Mumbai has been set as February 1, the state government has asked the respective regional transport authorities from other regions to decide the date of fixing the indicators on cabs registered till January-end.
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The indicators will have coloured LED lights of green, red and white, based on the cabs' availability. According to the notification, the taxi with the green light on would display it is available for ferrying passengers, red would mean that the cab is occupied and white would imply that it is unavailable.
Apart from LED lights, the indicators will have letters ‘For Hire’, ‘Hired’ and ‘Off Duty’, in English as well as Marathi languages. The idea for installation of rooftop indicators was proposed way back in 2012 as well. In fact, it gained traction in 2014 but the initiative could not take off because of the "language issue". The then transport minister Diwakar Raote insisted on having just Marathi signage.
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