MUNNAR, KERALA: A recent viral video shared by a Mumbai-based tourist detailing a harrowing experience with local taxi drivers and alleged police inaction in Munnar has exposed a deep-rooted issue plaguing one of Kerala’s premier tourist destinations. The tourist’s video, stating she would “never visit Kerala again,” highlights that the harassment faced by those using low-cost, app-based taxi services is not an isolated incident.
This conflict flares up frequently as local taxi drivers reportedly target app-based (online) taxi operators, accusing them of providing cheaper fares and taking away their business. This aggressive resistance has turned violent, directly affecting tourist safety and damaging Kerala’s reputation as a welcoming destination.
Brutal Attacks on App Drivers
The report states that local taxi drivers routinely assault and vandalize vehicles belonging to online taxi drivers from outside the district.
- Recent Incident: This past June, E. Swapnesh (45), an app-based taxi driver, was severely assaulted, and his vehicle was vandalized near Chekuthanmukku, Anachal. After dropping off tourists, he was confronted by a group of local drivers. Although a temporary truce was mediated by the police, the group later attacked Swapnesh while he was resting in a hotel parking lot in Chittirapuram, leaving him injured and requiring hospitalization.
- Growing Pattern: This attack on Swapnesh is reportedly the fifth such incident against app-based taxi drivers in just a few months.
Resistance to Tourism Innovation
The local taxi lobby’s resistance extends beyond app-based cars to other tourist-friendly transport options. Two years ago, a fleet of 15 two-wheeler rental bikes, brought in from Tamil Nadu to offer tourists low-cost, convenient transport similar to models successfully implemented in tourist hubs like Goa, had to be withdrawn. Local taxi drivers protested, arguing that the rental bikes would significantly impact their business, leading to heated arguments and the eventual removal of the vehicles.
While the State Government promotes various schemes to boost tourism, these repeated incidents of harassment and violence against innovative and affordable transport options directly contradict the goal of providing a pleasant visitor experience.
