Thane station gets Maharashtra's first prepaid autorickshaw service, fares fixed
Thane railway station becomes the first in Maharashtra to launch a prepaid autorickshaw service with fixed fares for commuters.
Maharashtra's first state-of-the-art prepaid autorickshaw service, along with a fully equipped booth, was launched at Thane railway station (West) with the aim of bringing transparency, safety and convenience to the daily commute of Thane residents.
The project was launched under the guidance of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in response to continuous demand from commuters. MLA Niranjan Davkhare and MLA Sanjay Kelkar were present on the occasion. Thane has become the first railway station in the state to start this kind of prepaid facility.
The inauguration was attended by Regional Transport Officer (Thane division) Hemangini Patil, Deputy Regional Transport Officer Rohit Katkar and Assistant Regional Transport Officer Mansing Khade. District Information Officer Manoj Sanap, office-bearers of various rickshaw-taxi organisations, and representatives of the R Nisarg Foundation and Cityflo also took part. Large numbers of autorickshaw drivers and local residents attended the event.
The project will be planned and managed jointly by Cityflo and the R Nisarg Foundation with the help of modern technology. With the facility in place, passengers arriving at Thane station will now get an autorickshaw without delay, and will know the fixed, authorised fare before starting their journey. This is expected to end drivers refusing rides, overcharging, or disputes over fares, while also encouraging digital and online payments. The system is meant to give both passengers and drivers a disciplined, respectful and orderly environment.
During the event, details were also shared about the Loksanvad initiative run by the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations, which brings government schemes and welfare-related decisions to people in one place. Officials also shared information about the RTO's online licence service, vehicle registration facility and road safety awareness campaigns for drivers and citizens.
Those present expressed confidence that the project would prove a major milestone for Thane's transport system, giving residents a safer commute backed by modern technology.
