Dibrugarh, May 8: Dibrugarh and its periphery will now have the services of radio cabs with Dispur launching mini taxi and mini cab services here.
Assam transport minister Ajit Singh inaugurated the taxi service here this afternoon. With today's launch, the Upper Assam town became the second base in the state after Guwahati to have the mini taxi and cab service.
"The transport system of a district plays a key role for the development of the area and it will solve the unemployment problem to some extent. Dibrugarh is one of the most developed districts in Assam with city buses introduced from here in the state," Singh said.
The radio taxi service has emerged as a growing business in the metros and cities over the past five to 10 years. It consists of private operators backed by call centres to man the calls, a fleet of cars, latest gadgets and technology and trained drivers.
"It will be a 24-hour service and passengers can book a taxi over a phone call at any time," Syed Rafiqual Mannan, the district transport officer in Dibrugarh, said.
"We had a plan to introduce the radio taxi service in Dibrugarh for the convenience of the citizens. In a city such as Guwahati it has been doing a brisk business," he added,
According to the new fare structure, the passengers have to pay Rs 30 for the first 2km and shell out another Rs 3 for the next 200 metres. Commuters will also have to pay Rs 3 for every 5 minutes waiting time once the journey begins. The fares between 10pm and 5am have been fixed at Rs 22 per km. A total of eight vehicles (Tata Iris) were rolled out in Dibrugarh today. The district transport officer said 30 such vehicles would be introduced in the town.
Deputy commissioner M.S. Manivannan said, "The new cab service will helpful for the citizens and bring a new era in the transport system of Dibrugarh."
The concept of 24-hour radio cabs caught up in the country about a decade back with Delhi-based Mega Corp setting the wheels rolling under the Mega Cabs brand in cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Amritsar. "It will be a very helpful communication service in the town where other services charge exorbitant prices," said Jogen Borah, senior advocate of Dibrugarh.
