[sustran] Re: Taxi operations in Mumbai

[Brendan Finn]

Dear Bina,

I guess Singapore's main cab companies (Comfort, CityCab, TIBS) might offer
a working model. While the cost base is likely to be different due to the
wage rates and perhaps also insurance and licence factors, it's still worth
looking at. They're certainly large enough to gain economies of scale and
good purchasing power.

An alternative model could be a leasing-with-maintenance arrangement by the
vehicle suppliers. This certainly can work in the bus sector.

Whatever you opt for, you are looking to replace old vehicles with new in a
low-wage, low-tariff situation. Financially, this is not going to fit
easily. Even allowing for fuel efficiencies and other cost savings, tariffs
are going to have to rise to pay for the new investment.

I wish you good luck in your option development and implementation.


Brendan Finn.
_______________________________________________________________________
Contact details are : e-mail : etts at indigo.ie   tel : +353.87.2530286

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bina C. Balakrishnan" <binac at rediffmail.com>
To: <sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 4:21 PM
Subject: [sustran] Taxi operations in Mumbai



Hi everyone,

We are trying to re-organise the taxi operations in Mumbai, introducing
newer, more efficient models of cars, with a choice of levels of comfort,
and differentiated tariff structures. Currently, all taxis in Mumbai are
either owner- driven, or by a driver hired by the owner of a single or small
(4-5) fleet of cars. Operational costs in this case seem to be high, and
vehicle maintenance suffers. Most of these vehicles are also very old, and
in an attempt to improve both the system as well as the environment through
the use of newer, better vehicles, we are examining the feasibility of
shifting to an "Operator System," where new models of fuel efficient
vehicles will be owned by a few large operators, who can then optimize their
operations.

I would appreciate any information on the experience of other cities
elsewhere in the world, in this area.

Regards and thanks,
Bina

Bina C. Balakrishnan
Consultant
Transportation Planning & Engineering
Mumbai, India
e-mail : binac at rediffmail.com