TAXIS, Mumbai

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Black and Yellow taxis are cheap and plenty in numbers throughout Mumbai. They are the integral part of city's heritage. Most taxis in Mumbai are small-medium sized non a/c cars from Padmini Fiat (modern makers from Maruti Alto/Omni, WagonR & Tata Indica). You can hail a cab off the streets in the city area (monopoly between Churchgate to Bandra) very easily but in the suburbs the taxis are little low due to outnumbered by Auto Ricksaws. However, many taxis are quite dated, unclean, and carry tampered meters at times.

Almost all taxis in Mumbai run in CNG and the cylinder is installed inside the boot (trunk) so luggage space is limited. If you have extra pieces of luggage then hiring a taxi with a top carrier will be wiser option. Before commencing the journey, ensure that the luggage is securely fastened to the carrier. The maximum number of passengers allowed for a trip officially is four — three in the back seat and one in the front. Seat belts are not mandatory for taxi passengers and most standard black and yellow taxis will not even have them installed, though you can expect them in the newer branded ones.

According to law, a black-and-yellow taxi driver cannot refuse a fare. If a driver does refuse, a threat to complain to the nearest cop usually does the trick.

Taxi Fare :
Minimum fare: INR 16 for first 1.6 km
Fare above minimum : INR 10 per km
Waiting charges per hour: INR 30. Minimum 10 minutes are charged.
Luggage charges: Only big bags are charged.

Night timings: 00:00 Hrs - 05:00 Hrs
Night charges : 25% Extra

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Founded in 1997 City Cool Cab with the sole purpose of providing good taxi service at reasonable rates. The company was started with just one Fiat car and now have upgraded into Sedan types of cars along with other compact cars as well. The Cars are painted Blue with Silver top. The cars are air conditioned as the name suggested and a first initiative to provide the city an air conditioned taxi service.

You can catch a cool cab anywhere within Mumbai limits as well reserve a cab using the local dial in. The numbers of cool cabs are much lesser than the black/yellow taxi but not that expensive for that matter

Cool Cab Fare :
Minimum fare: INR 20 for first 1.6 km
Fare above minimum : INR 12.5 per km
Waiting charges per hour: INR 30. Minimum 10 minutes are charged.
Luggage charges: Only big bags are charged.

Night timings: 00:00 Hrs - 05:00 Hrs
Night charges : 25% Extra

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Other than pre-paid taxi service from the city's 2 airports, taxi on demand is a fairly new concept. You can now call in advance or book online for a taxi pickup. Check each company's websites as some may require an advance booking of as much as 24 hours.

Once you book, keep the company's number handy in case you need to call them while waiting for the taxi. With Mumbai's traffic it's important to allow extra time to reach your destination, especially when going to the airport. Also if you have alot of luggage, be sure to inquire what type of car will be sent; unless otherwise requested you'll get a small car. Large cars/SUVs such as Innovas are available for large groups or those with alot of luggage.

The three companies I have used are: Cool Cab (usually smaller cars with A/C) - http://www.citycoolcab.in/, Meru is another company - http://www.merucabs.com/ and Star Taxi - http://www.startaxi.in/. We have used these companies for trips to the airport as well as local destinations.

It's a good idea to call and confirm your pickup a couple of hours before the scheduled time.

I booked a prepaid taxi from the airport to the hotel in Fort area. There is one booth for prepaid taxis just as you enter the arrival hall (at this one you can also book the taxi from the outside of the building) and one by the exit.

The woman at the counter told me it was 400 rupees to my destination and I paid. Not until I left the building did I notice that it stood 370 rupees on the recite (an that included the bags and service as well). And I who thought this was a safe way to pay without being tricked to pay too much.

I took a black and yellow taxi without air condition. A blue and white taxi with air condition would have cost about 100 rupees more. And as I don't like A/C it was not a difficult decision. There were loads of taxis driving around, but I had to wait for the one with the correct number.

How long it takes to Fort/Colaba depends on the time of the day and traffic. The taxi driver drove to Colaba first instead of Fort and wanted more money for that, but I had given the right direction and knew nothing more was going to be paid.

Taxis in Mumbai are inexpensive if you compare to other countries. But they are not as cheap as the motorcycle rickshaws. Make sure to agree on the price before entering the taxi.

You can also hire a car for a day or a city tour at a fixed price. F.ex. Half day city tour from Juhu to Gateway of India and around was 1200 rupies. I bargained down to 1000 rupies.

Blue & white taxis have air con. NB This does not mean to say the people in the rear of the car are going to benefit from it. Air conditioned cabs always cost more.

The yellow and black cabs do not have air conditioning but there is nothing wrong with the old fashioned way of winding the window down!!!

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS agree the price before entering into the agreement.
Do NOT let them bump you into "good places to shop". It is good for them - they get 100INR just for showing up with you... but it is a pain in the backside unless you (a) have a genuine interest and/or (b) are feeling particularly generous with your time.
ALWAYS insist on being taken to where you WANTED to go and not to where they suggest (unless of course their suggestion is genuinely making a lot more sense).
Do NOT always be quick to believe what your cab driver is telling you EG I asked to go to the Gateway of India because I was taking a trip to Elephanta Island. My cab driver (at 1000hrs) told me I was too late for the ferries but he could take me around and show me the sights! After a heated discussion he decided he actually meant he thought it was going to be too hot for me!

If taking a cab to/from the airport you can use the toll bridge. It costs 50 INR one way and you have to pay - if y ou hand over more than 50INR check your change... some drivers will buy themselves a return on your behalf. Ok, we are talking about an extra 25INR but you may want to take that into account with the tip you hand over at the end!

NOTE FOR TRAVELLING BETWEEN CITY AND MUMBAI AIRPORT
From airport to south Mumbai - It took about 1.5-2 hours by blue air-con taxi during midday when I arrived Mumbai without any rain. When I left from city to airport, the monsoon rain arrived heavily. Gladly I decided to leave for airport 5.5 hours before the flight time and I ended up spending 3 hours on the congested road with flooded water on the streets. The local taxi driver I got was so good to negoitate and struggle with heavy traffic for me and fight for every inch of space to advance in order to bring me to the airport. We encountered flooded road that he had to make U turn and took another road. Along the way, I saw many local taxi broke down due to flooding and heavy rain. I was praying that it would not happen to my taxi!!!

The congestion occurred all the way even to the moment that I got off right in front of the airport terminal. It was raining and I got wet all over the body (when I hailed for taxi) and sat in the taxi for 3 good hours. To apprevciate his effort, I gave him extra fare that he deserved it. My passport got wet for about 20% (gladly it is dry now when I write this message). This was the experience that I have never had after travelling to 65 countries to-date and for sure I will not forget. What an experience!