Cabbies In Mumbai Lose Their Cars To Auction After Being Deprived Of Income Amid Pandemic

The first wave of COVID-19 lockdown had drastically affected Maharashtra, bringing businesses of the state to a standstill. A large number of people, from street vendors and dabbawalas to cab drivers, got deprived of their daily sources of income. Left with no choice, many cab owners had parked their vehicles in the city and went back to their hometowns. But little did they know that a bigger misery was awaiting them. 40 taxis which were parked outside Mumbai airport got auctioned off by the authorities and now cabbies are facing acute challenges to run their families.

Notices Were Issued, But They Did Not Reach The Cabbies’ Hometowns

The cab owners are planning to move to the Bombay High Court against the action of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL). However, Dr Randhir Lamba, AVP-Corporate Relations at MIAL has stated the first notice was sent to the registered addresses of the cabbies on December 25, 2020. In the first week of February, the second notice was sent. After that, a public notice was issued in the newspapers. The cab owners have informed that their registered addresses were, however, in Mumbai. The notices did not reach their hometowns. They could not come to know about the notices by any means.

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According to a mid-day report, 35-year-old Suraj found out that the tyres and some parts of his taxi were missing when he came back to Mumbai after lockdown. The repair cost of the same was around ₹15,000. While he was trying to arrange for the money amid the second wave, his taxi was auctioned off. He is now finding it difficult to run his family with his wife, two children and parents. 50-year-old Chhotelal Pandey, who has five kids, said that he had paid off the loan for his cab a few years ago. But just when he was free from the EMIs, he lost his vehicle.

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The Reality Amid The Fair And Unfair

Rakesh Mishra, general secretary of Bhartiya Taxi Chalak Sangh, said that the action was unfair against the taxi drivers as they had to go back to their villagers amid lockdown. MIAL’s Dr Lamba said that the taxis were auctioned only after the final notice. He said, “Keeping in mind the security of the airport, it is not advisable to park unknown taxis there. All legal procedures have been completed before the taxi auction.” But between all that’s fair and unfair, the plight of the cabbies amid the already harrowing national crisis is truly heartbreaking.