Soon autorickshaws and taxis in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will have Global Positioning System (GPS) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). “We plan to include installation of GPS and GPRS. These will be applicable for the new permits that will be issued by the state government,” said a transport official.

As per the plans, the permit will have a condition mentioning installation of these machines. “But the clause will also read that these equipment should be put up as and when the state makes it compulsory,” added the official.

Whenever a control room is set up, the state will press for installation of these equipment for monitoring and coordination purposes. Having these two machines will help in bringing the non-air-conditioned taxis and autorickshaws on a par with private fleet taxis. There are plans of the state government to come out with 10,000 dead taxi permits for Mumbai, whereas at the same time 32,000 dormant auto permits will be revived.

Owning to dormant permits, hiring a vehicle for shorter commute is becoming difficult for Mumbaikars due to refusal by the drivers.

The state transport department also plans to include six-seater taxis in the new batch of taxi permits. This will help in accommodating more people or can even ply as share-a-cab thereby ferrying two more passengers at one go.

The other compulsions for freshly issued permits will be to include Radio Frequency Identification Device and roof top indicators, which will help people in knowing if the vehicle can be hired or booked.

There are even plans to issue the dead permits by way of lottery draw.