A cab driver has been arrested for charging an NRI a surreal amount of ₹2,800 for just a 10-minute cab ride from Mumbai airport.
The incident happened on December 15, when D Vijay, a Nagpur native living in Australia, landed at the airport around midnight. Ignoring the prepaid taxi counter, he trusted the driver, Vinod Goswami, who convinced him to take the ride and went on to rob him by asking an absurd price.
Fortunately, Vijay realized something was off and checked with his hotel, which charges only ₹700 for the same route. He reported the scam to the police, who should be commended for acting swiftly and tracking down the driver within 12 hours.
This is not an isolated case either, as a 19-year-old from Sangli faced a similar overpricing auto-rickshaw driver after returning from the US. Now the Mumbai police have become more vigilant as they deployed undercover officers who cracked down on nine more drivers in just two days.
These incidents can paint a poor picture of Mumbai and the whole country for tourists and visitors. Thus, strict actions are much needed from authorities to maintain India’s reputation.
