Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (VA)

Udupi, Jul 17: Finally after 2 decades of formation of Konkan Railway, there’s good news of starting Prepaid Taxi- Rickshaw service within a month’s time.

Without this service, the commuters used to face a lot of problems from the taxi, rickshaw drivers who used to charge a huge price even for smaller distances. Though there are two buses in the morning from rail way station, the people who reach the station at night had no buses to reach their homes.

Moreover, it is said that the drivers refuse to take the commuters to places like Indrali and agree only if it’s a long distance so that they can charge heavily.

Concerned over the problem of commuters, Railway tourist department’s president R L Dais met the Konkan Railway head office, Belapur’s administrative director and financial manager with the plea to build a prepaid booth, following which it was decided to have it in the railway station.

Dais has given a list to contractors the distance of places like Karkala, Moodubidri, Manipal, Someshwara, Hebri, Kaup among others from the Udupi station. Now the rates will be decided by various representatives and the service of prepaid booth will be ready in a month.

There’s stringent opposition for the service from drives of auto- rickshaws more than that of taxi drivers.