Fast Track Taxi or "back track" Taxi

                                        

People in Chennai have fewer options when it comes to hiring of Taxis @ Chennai Airport to get back to their respective homes.  There are only 2 operators viz Aviation Express and Fast Track having counters at the Airport.  The other public taxi painted in black and yellow, though cheaper has some vintage fleet of cars and not air conditioned and not a comfortable one to ride back specially after alighting from an air-conditioned environment both inside the aircraft and also at the airport premises. These 2 operators have a virtual monopoly and fleece the passengers like there is no tomorrow?  While Aviation Express charges a sum of RS 650/- for covering a distance of about 12 kms, Fast track charges a sum of Rs 550/- for the same distance but lends the luxury of Tata Indigo car that can either take 2 passengers and one suitcase or take 3 passengers as it is hard to pull the car with any load more than the above stated!

Fast track has this notorious track record of upsurping many small time operators and bringing them all under one single brand of Fast Track, probably with some political support?  The result is that there is no competition in the field and whatever fares fixed by them is the final verdict for the commuters.  The Airport has 2 operators as there is a requirement of atleast 2 operators lest the system comes for scrutiny under Monopoly act!  Both of them have agreed and colluded to fix their own fares and loot the innocent passengers who are helpless and at their mercy!

Fast Track, of late, has started employing drivers who are from deep backward areas of South India and who do not know the topography of the city.  Every time you book a call Taxi, the call center allots a Taxi.  The driver calls up your mobile from somewhere and asks the way to come to your house!  This is quite disgusting and harassing as you have to plan a route map for the driver to enable him to reach you.  Similarly, you have to navigate him fully right upto your destination!!  One gets tired of giving directions and tension builds as you are never allowed to relax during the time of your journey in the car!

This morning, I had booked a Taxi with Fast Track for dropping my daughter at the Chennai airport.  The booking was made and an SMS was promptly sent confirming the booking.  At 7.45 am when the Taxi did not arrive on the scene, I enquired with the Fast track booking center only to be told that a driver with his Taxi is on his way.  They gave the mobile number of the driver as well.  When I contacted the driver, he simply told that there are no instructions to him from Fast Track!  When I contacted them back, they gave yet another number and the same thing was repeated.  I cancelled the booking and decided to drive myself and  drop my daughter at the airport.  The entire definition of hiring a Call Taxi stood defeated and there was absolutely no sign of any remorse from Fast Track.

It is time that the State Government encourages competition in the field and allow as many operators in order to build a healthy competition and protect the good will of the people.  More operators means competitive spirits and better upkeep of the cars as in Bangalore or Hyderabad.  I am given to understand that these 2 operators have their affiliation to local political parties who are protecting them by not allowing any kind of competition to come in whereby public will benefit.  The idea is to fleece and why not from those who travel by air paying high ticket prices?  Its time that both the Airport authority of India and the State Government wake up to realities and take stern measures to put down such business which is monopolistic in nature and against public interests?