Cabs Grounded, Rlys Stunned By RedTape, Say Commuters Deserve Better

Nagpur: While the rollout of smooth cab services from Nagpur railway station has been delayed by administrative red tape, TOI digs deeper into the issue even as passengers struggle with heavy luggage, chaotic traffic and a heatwave that forces them to trek 300m to get a cab home. "In which Indian city do passengers face such trauma at the railway station? Will cabs roll out when the heatwave is over and rains come. Will Nagpur continue to suffer the auto mafia, who don't allow app-based cabs to pick passengers from the station," said a harried commuter, adding "VIPs who set the rules don't walk in the blistering heat with heavy luggage as the aam aadmi does".Here's what has happened. A tender was awarded and finalised early January to a cab aggregator at Nagpur railway station. But, senior railway officials stated the sudden requirement of a fresh registration with Regional Transport Authorities (RTA) and approval from a committee under the Nagpur collector has triggered a major administrative roadblock and delayed the cab rollout. Most importantly, the aggregator too is in shock after having paid a hefty deposit to Central Railways, who too sounded stunned and clueless by the new clause. "We issued a letter to the RTO and Collector office to expedite the process and allow the cab aggregator service to operate without delay," said a senior Railways officer. The official letter, accessed by The Times of India, dated March 26, 2026, highlighted the harrowing experiences faced by railway commuters daily in absence of the cab pickup services for nearly three years.Railway officials say they have been persistently following up with RTA and Collector's Office to fast-track the process, but bureaucratic delays have kept the approved online operator on hold. "The delay is inexplicable. We have been waiting for months after the tender was awarded. Commuters deserve better," said a senior railway official.Sources in the Collector's Office and RTA confirmed the absence of a dedicated policy framework and licensing norms for app-based aggregator cabs operating inside railway station premises is the primary hurdle. "The policy needs to be drawn first, following which approvals can be issued," a senior official.The approval committee, comprising the Collector, RTO and representatives from other departments, is now exploring interim arrangements, including provisional permission, to allow the operator to begin services at the earliest. However, no concrete timeline has been shared.This situation stands in sharp contrast to major railway stations in Maharashtra — Mumbai or Pune — where seamless pickup zones are functioning smoothly.At Nagpur, only drop-and-go services are operational. Passengers deboarding trains are forced to walk long distances with luggage through congested areas, often facing harassment from the auto mafia. Families, senior citizens and daily travellers are the worst affected, with many expressing frustration over lack of basic convenience at this important Maharashtra rail hub.Another official highlighted that multiple coordination meetings have taken place, but the lack of a clear policy continues to stall progress.