Tension prevailed at Chennai airport on Sunday night after two groups of taxi drivers came to blows following allegations that call taxi drivers were “hijacking” customers meant for pre-paid taxi drivers.
Senior police officials had to rush to the spot to avoid the scuffle turning into a major chaos at the airport.
Pre-paid taxi drivers on Monday said that they were registered to operate in the airport unlike call taxi and tourist taxi vehicles.
They also said that their income completely depended on passengers arriving from different destinations.
“However, other drivers who arrive there to drop passengers take away our passengers by offering fares that are 20 per cent lower than ours,” said Mr Rajesh a cab driver.
If the prepaid taxi token states Rs 500 for traveling from the airport to Egmore, other drivers ask for Rs 400, the police noted.
However, call taxi and tourist taxi drivers said that it was up to the passengers to decide which service they would avail.
They offered their service for less so the passengers would use their vehicles, the police said quoting call taxi and tourist taxi drivers.
Police and Airport Authority of India officials pacified the drivers and promised to solve the issue amicably in the coming days.