Madurai: Passengers arriving at Madurai Junction railway station are being forced to walk with luggage to board taxis, as auto rickshaw drivers at the station allegedly prevent app-based cabs from picking up commuters near the main gate.
The problem has worsened as station redevelopment work has already narrowed access near the entrance. Commuters say the restriction is not being imposed by police or railway authorities.
“I came by Pearl City Express around 3am with my family. We had booked an Ola cab, but the driver said he was not being allowed to come near the main entrance. We had to drag our bags and walk up to the entrance near Royal Plaza to board the cab. At that hour, it was difficult and unsafe,” said R Suresh, a senior citizen from Anuppanadi in Madurai.
Taxi drivers said they come to the gate only when passengers share the location after booking through apps. “We don’t go there to pick up a fight. When a passenger books through an app and asks us to come to the main gate near the ticket booking counter, we go there. That road is for public access. How can anyone tell us not to pick up a passenger who has already booked the cab?” asked M Kumar, a taxi driver.
Auto drivers said they pay to use the stand and cannot allow cabs to wait there. “We pay ₹1,000 a month to use this space. Some cab drivers come in the name of app bookings and wait here to poach our passengers and rides,” said an auto driver at the stand.
Railway officials confirmed that auto drivers pay a fee to use the space. However, they cannot prevent pick-up and drop of passengers by other vehicles.
In the wee hours of June 12, a cab driver, who was asked to leave, objected and called police. Police reached the spot, brokered peace and advised taxi drivers not to disturb auto rickshaw operations while picking up passengers who had already booked rides through apps.
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