A senior police officer has urged the public to report any harassment or inconvenience caused when attempting to book online taxis near the Fort Railway Station, following a series of complaints and social media reports highlighting the issue.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Minura Rashantha, several passengers have raised concerns about not being able to hire ride-hailing services such as PickMe and Uber from the vicinity of the Fort Railway Station due to the dominance of local three-wheeler drivers.
“It was observed that passengers exiting the station are often unable to proceed with pre-booked hires because three-wheeler drivers operating in the area do not allow space for those taxis to stop and wait,” the ASP said in a public statement.
Rashantha noted that this issue has led to some online taxi drivers being assaulted, and passengers facing significant inconvenience. Following this, police held discussions with a majority of the three-wheeler drivers operating in the area, where it was revealed that 92 three-wheelers are currently stationed near Fort Railway Station, with most drivers having worked there for over 25 years.
Many of these three-wheelers operate without fare meters, charging passengers negotiated rates, which vary depending on the time and situation — a practice that has caused dissatisfaction among commuters.
“I explained to them the public’s discontent and emphasised the importance of offering fair and transparent services. I also made it clear that any future obstruction or harassment would result in legal action,” ASP Rashantha said, adding that the drivers had agreed to cooperate.
The ASP further requested commuters who experience similar problems to immediately notify the nearest police post or contact the following numbers:
- Fort OIC (Officer-in-Charge): 071 859 1560
- Assistant Superintendent of Police: 071 859 1559
