Non-AC cab service likely from next month

CHANDIGARH: The much-awaited commuting service of 24x7 non-airconditioned radio cabs across the Tricity is likely to start from early next month.
The file to approve the administration’s move has been lying with the UT administrator Shivraj Patil. Talking to TOI, UT state transport secretary Vandana Disodia, said, “We have already sent the file to UT administrator so that the non-airconditioned radio cab service can start at the earliest.”
“We have proposed a rate of Rs 12 for the first kilometre and Rs 9 for the subsequent run of kilometres.The facility is aimed at providing best services to the middle class,” said Disodia. She further said new rates of Rs 12 and Rs 9 had been decided after much deliberations with a number of cab operators. “We have raised the rates a little but have refused to allow the display of commercials on these radio cabs,” said the STA secretary.
However, the air-conditioned radio cabs, running at the rate of Rs 15 per kilometre, are allowed to carry advertisements on their vehicles. In fact, the project to start non-airconditioned radio cabs had been initiated long back by the UT administration. Earlier, the authorities wished to start the economic cab service at much-lesser rates of Rs 10 and Rs 8. However, not a single operator came forward and termed the project as ‘financially unviable.’
Sources said repeated requests for the same proved futile as the operators continued to demand the rise in fares. Later, the operators requested the transport department to allow them to display commercial advertisements on the cabs. However, the request was turned down by the UT finance department.
Finally, as many as five cab operators came forward to start the cab service but only one of them agreed to comply with the administration?s intentions of fixing the low rates.