I used the new BWSL (Bandra-Worli Sea-Link) twice
on a recent trip to India (July/Aug) to travel from
the international airport to Colaba. Great experience,
cuts travel time in half - though the cabbies comparison
of it to the San Francisco's Golden Gate (which I've
traversed) I thought fanciful! Anyhow, MIDDAY did a
recent survey of cabbie-extortion
(http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/oct/151009-J-Brandon-Hotel-Hyatt-foreigners-cheating-taxi-drivers.htm)
from which the foll. post is extracted, where reference
is made to the extortionate ways of Goa cabbies!
:-)
FR
http://www.konkanisongbook.com/
Mumbai taxi's, Indian Auto
Rickshaws
Posted by : [email protected]
15 October 2009 18:55:39
I've just returned back to the UK after spending 2 weeks in India, of which
almost 1 week was in Mumbai.
Within those 2 weeks I spent the best part of it arguing with taxi drivers,
rickshaw drivers, shop sellers, etc.
I was getting ripped off left, right and centre, even though I
argued and argued. But simply because I didn't look Indian enough they
thought it was fine to over charge me. (Money does not grow on trees in
the UK, and our streets are not paved with gold. We work **** hard for
our money too).
I have learnt after many trips to India to always make sure the
driver drops the meter at the start of the journey and I always ask to
read the card once I reach my destination. Obviously, being a foreigner
I try and do my homework before I come, and if possible carry a map of
the area with me.
In Gujurat the auto rickshaw drivers were even worse, as they were
in Goa. They stated a price and none of them would take us for a more
reasonable price, even though they knew fully well that were ripping us
off. In Goa we were charged Rs.100 to travel 3 kms.
When buying soft drinks I was regularly charge 'cooling charges'.
For exmaple, I was charged Rs.25 or Rs. 30, even though it stated Rs.22
on the bottle.
Whenever we are there, we make sure we give lots and lots to the
poor and the needy, so it's not as if we are leaving without doing our
bit for society.
But the way we are treated is simply outrageous.
I have to say the dogs in the UK are better than many of the Indians in India
we have come across.
India has a long long long way to go. But, with all it's black
money, it won't even get remotely near to a developed country, even in
a million years.
Where there is truth and honesty, there is trust.
After all, when you leave this earth, the money definately isn't going with you!
India really needs to wake up and smell the coffee. If it doesn't
want our money and hospitality, there are plenty of better places we
can go to. And we sure do go.
So, for the sake of your country do yourselves a favour and be honest with
yourself and each other.
[email protected]
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