The group controlling auto rickshaws continues to have a strong influence at Nagpur railway station, while sanctioned cab services still remain on paper.
Following the intimidating stance of autorickshaw drivers, cab aggregator services are now stuck in railway red tape. Continued coverage from the media has shed light on the difficulties faced by railway passengers, particularly senior citizens who have to walk 400 meters outside the station premises to catch cabs booked through apps.
Fearing the influence of the auto mafia, taxi drivers would decline to enter the station premises for pick-ups. Until now, cab drivers have only been entering the railway station to drop off passengers. The standoff intensified after the auto-rickshaw drivers assaulted a cabbie, whose video and appeal went viral on social media, highlighting fear and helplessness.
The railway administration, which initially issued a contract to a cab aggregator in November, had to relocate the designated parking area to a new location to avoid heightening tensions with the auto mafia, particularly pre-paid drivers. In a shift from the current staff parking arrangement, the railway administration plans to reallocate the space to taxi drivers, who have requested specific adjustments. An official mentioned that, in response to the new requirements from the cab aggregator service, the railway administration is preparing to demolish a wall to create entry and exit passages. The joint survey by various Central Railway departments, including engineering, has been completed at the site.