CHENNAI: For the upwardly mobile middle class, especially those who don’t own a vehicle, call taxis are becoming a preferred option over the city’s autos. Call taxis beat autos hands down in terms of convenience, comfort, fixed rates, time saving and a tinge of luxury.Devan (57), a Railway employee, sums up his preference for a call taxi thus, “Taxis pick me up at my door-step. I don’t have to walk up to the main road, and try to find an auto that is willing to come to the destination I need to go to. Besides, call taxi rates are pre-fixed, they run a meter also, and we pay as per the distance and don’t end up feeling cheated at the end of the journey. Time, energy and peace, which we lose otherwise, trying to bargain with the auto drivers, is saved.”Divya (28), a banker with Barclays Bank, feels that taxis are a better option compared to autos when travelling long distances, especially with family. “When I have to take my son along, or when we travel more than 5 km, we prefer to use the call taxi, because it is a safer option and a lot more comfortable and convenient. The call taxi is the best way, when more than three people are travelling together,” she said.Chennaiites have many options with different call taxis to choose from. Over 100 call taxi service providers are listed in JustDial, a search engine, with Fast Track and Cars India leading the pack. Subhashini (32), a marketing professional who crisscrosses the city for work every day, said, “Previously for work, I used to use the autos a lot, since I don’t drive. There were days when I have spent close to Rs. 1,000 in a day on autos. Now, I take the taxi and finish work in one go, and trust me it is working out cheaper than autos.”As a parting shot, Devan said, “For middle class people who do not own a car, but have enough disposable income to hire call taxis, they provide us the luxury of a car at a price. For us, this is working out cheaper than owning a car and maintaining it.”However, call taxi services are not without pitfalls — such as delays and using circuitous routes to make a few extra bucks. Nevertheless, Chennaiites seem to be satisfied with this growing transport option.
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