After airport, a section of app-cab drivers and operator wants dedicated pick-up points for passengers at Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata railway stations.
It would reduce unnecessary harassment of the app-cab drivers and make it easier for the passengers to locate the vehicles at these stations, they said on Monday.
Metro reported that Uber and Ola cabs have dedicated pick-up points in front of the terminal building of the Kolkata airport.
The app-cab operators have to pay Rs 65 for each trip to the authorities as fee to be allowed to park at the pick-up points.
The move was aimed at addressing the problem of commuting from the airport, officials said, adding that the counter for Uber inside the terminal building on the arrival area was also allowed to resume operations.
“At least, there is now a mechanism where app-cab drivers can arrive and pick up commuters against a valid booking at the airport. We urge the transport department to hold talks with the railways and create a similar set up outside the three railway stations,” said Indranil Banerjee of the West Bengal Online Cab-Operators Guild.
“A dedicated pick up point for app-cab passengers will be of help to both the drivers and the passengers. If there can be dedicated bus stands and taxi stands, why can’t there be an app-cab stand outside these stations?”
Outside Howrah station, app-cabs now remain parked on a patch between the parking lots number two and three.
The number of cars that can remain parked at this patch is limited and much less compared to the demand, several app-cab drivers said.
“Outside Howrah station, there is a dedicated bay for yellow taxis and those registered with the Yatri Sathi app. But there is no such space for app-cabs even though a significant number of passengers arriving at the station choose to book us,” said Avijit Dhar, an app-cab driver.
Outside Sealdah station, it is even more chaotic with yellow-cabs, private vehicles, autorickshaws and other vehicles, including those meant for the railway and army officials, remaining parked, a section of app-cab drivers said.
With thousands of passengers entering and leaving the station, several drivers tend to avoid entering the station compound, they said.
“A passenger has to explain in detail the exact location where he is standing for an app-cab driver to come and identify him outside Sealdah station,” Banerjee said.
Senior transport department officials said they had a round of initial talks with Kolkata police about managing parking lots outside Sealdah and Howrah stations.
“There are several issues involved. We will take them up with the railway authorities only after the police say they are willing to manage separate parking lots of app-cabs,” said a senior official of the transport department.