To boost connectivity, prepaid taxi stand to come up near Nabanna

People visiting Nabanna will no more have to struggle to get a taxi as the Howrah City Police has mooted a plan to set up a prepaid taxi stand near the state secretariat.

There already are prepaid taxi stands in Howrah at important locations, including Howrah Station and Santragachi Station. However, the police have decided to set up three additional prepaid taxi stands. One will come up close to Nabanna and the other two will come up at Digha Bus Stand and Shalimar Station.

Kolkata Traffic Police manages the movement of vehicles around the state secretariat, though it is located in Howrah. As a result, Howrah City Police will be in correspondence with Kolkata Traffic Police and the state Transport department for setting up the taxi stand near Nabanna.

According to a senior police officer, if everything goes as planned, the paid taxi stand will come up at Mandirtala, which is within 500m of Nabanna.

At present, some taxis are parked at the end of the flank of Vidyasagar Setu, heading the intersection of Mandirtala. Residents and regulars to Howrah are familiar with the location from where they can hail a taxi. Several buses also ply through the intersection. "So it has been proposed that Mandiratala will be the best location to set up the prepaid taxi stand," the police officer said.

People from different parts of the state regularly visit Nabanna. There are many people from other states who go to the state secretariat after arriving at Howrah Station. It is easier for them to get a taxi from the prepaid stand at Howrah Station to reach Nabanna. However, they face inconvenience while returning from the state secretariat.

With the setting up of the taxi stand at Mandirtala, visitors will no more face hardships in getting a taxi with fixed fares. There will be no scope for drivers to charge customers arbitrarily. At the same time, taxis will be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week at the prepaid taxi stand.

It has been learnt that Howrah City Police Commissioner DP Singh held a meeting in this regard with the concerned authorities and the plan will be executed in the next few months.

Similarly, setting up a prepaid taxi stand at Digha Bus Stand will help a large number of people as the number of tourists visiting Digha every day has gone up manifold. People returning from Digha will soon easily get a taxi from the stand.

The Howrah City Police had set up a pre paid taxi stand at Santragachi Stationl, from where more than 500 taxis operate every day.