Pune: As traffic congestion and parking issues continue to worsen, many Pune residents prefer cabs over other transportation modes. The city now has around 60,000 cabs, serving nearly five lakh passengers daily. However, many passengers are now raising concerns about hygiene, poor vehicle maintenance, and inadequate service standards.
Despite the convenience of cab services, many passengers have reported dirty seats, foul odors, broken AC systems, and old vehicles that make travel uncomfortable. Additionally, passengers are forced to pay the same fare, regardless of the cab's condition. Many customers have voiced their dissatisfaction on social media, blaming cab drivers and service providers for negligence.
Common Passenger Complaints:
Unhygienic Vehicles: Many cabs lack cleanliness, with dusty, stained seats and foul smells that create an unpleasant travel experience.
Outdated and Poorly Maintained Vehicles: Some drivers use old cars where the air conditioning does not function properly, and the seats and interiors are in poor condition.
Unfair Pricing: Regardless of the vehicle’s condition, passengers pay the same fare, leading to frustration and financial loss.
Rising Issues with Driver Behavior
Passengers have also raised concerns about driver behavior, including:
Frequent arguments with passengers over minor issues.
Threatening to cancel trips midway due to disagreements.
Refusing to assist passengers with luggage at railway stations, bus stands, or airports.
Cab Service Struggles and Driver Frustration
With cab fares currently lower than auto-rickshaw fares, many cab drivers are struggling financially. This declining income has reportedly led to negligence in service quality, including deliberate refusal to use AC and lack of vehicle maintenance.
According to Bhirudev Palve, President of the Maharashtra Tourist Taxi Association, "Cab drivers must ensure basic facilities for passengers. If they fail to do so, they risk losing their customers. Installing a fan instead of an AC is a deceptive practice that needs to stop."
Passengers Share Their Experiences
Urmila Mule (Passenger) said, "On a Sunday afternoon, we booked a cab from Bharati Vidyapeeth to Wakdewadi station. Despite the extreme heat, the driver refused to turn on the AC. Only after repeated requests did he finally switch it on."
