From rxpgnews.com
Being taken for a ride in Mumbai? Complain online
By Probir Pramanik, IANS,
Feb 16, 2007 - 9:25:21 AM
Mumbai, Feb 16 - Mad at the cabbie? Don't fret and don't get taken for a ride. Just head for your laptop or the nearest cyber café and file an online complaint with the Mumbai traffic police that promise immediate action.
So, the next time an errant auto-rickshaw or taxi driver charges exorbitant fares, just log on to www.trafficpolicemumbai.com and click on the link 'complaint against autos and taxies' on the home page.
Swamped with increasing number of complaints, the traffic police have developed software that allows citizens to lodge a complaint in an 'easy-to-fill' online form.
Though New Delhi has been following the system for some time, Mumbai cops activated the page only earlier this month. And about 1,000 auto and taxi drivers have already been fined.
'We have been receiving loads of complaints against errant cabbies, so we decided to launch the online complaint system to speed up the process,' said Joint Commissioner of Police - Satish Chand Mathur.
'Once you click on the link, it opens a form asking for the applicant's name, the number of the vehicle against which the complaint is being filed, date and place of occurrence, vehicle type and the nature of complaint -- excess fare, refusal to ply faulty meter or other complaints,' Mathur told IANS.
'Once we receive a complaint, we immediately track down the errant driver and take action against him.'
A first time offender is levied a minimum fine of Rs.100 according to the law and the driver is warned. Second-time offenders are dealt with higher fines and even suspension of his driver's license.
Officials here are of the view that online complaints would really help Mumbaikars, always in a hurry in this city that never stops to sleep.
Encouraged by the response, major websites like Yahoo, Hotmail and Google are being roped in for 'online community groups' to inform Mumbaikars about traffic diversions and major day-to-day traffic updates.
'We are also installing electronic variable message system boards across the city. These will be connected to the traffic control room and be of great help to Mumbaikars during emergencies and major traffic diversions,' Mathur added.
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