Women propose, unions oppose

Mumbai: While union leaders are reluctant about the state’s decision to have GPS installed in all taxis and auto rickshaws, women commuters have welcomed the move as they feel it would ensure better security for them.

For taxi union leaders, the point of contention is the fact that the drivers would have to spend for the navigation-tracking equipment.

Taxi union leader A. L. Quadros said, “We are completely against the move to fix GPS in taxis, because it will just mean that the drivers will have to spend money from their own pockets. We have suggested to the government that they use the Nirbhaya fund for this purpose.”

Auto union leader Shashank Rao, whose union consists of almost 90 per cent of the 1.25 lakh auto rickshaws in the city, adopted a more cautious stance and said that they are waiting for the government to provide a more detailed plan before taking a call. “We want to see exactly how we will be involved and of course the money that will be involved.”

He added, “Until now, the government has not approached us with any proposal or sought our view, so we are waiting and watching.”

Women commuters like Aaakanksha Bajpai (26) a resident of Mahim said that she would prefer a black and yellow the taxi with a GPS than without one, she said, “I think a lot of times we just hail a cab and try to get home as fast as possible, especially when we are in a rush.

“The booking procedure for an Ola or Uber takes 10 minutes at least or you have to wait for the cabs if there are not in the area. So a lot of times the kaali-peeli becomes the go-to solution,”she says.

She further added, “During such incidents, having a auto or a taxi in which you know a GPS tracker has been fixed will really prove to be a godsend for us women.”