Kumari Palany & Co

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To operate cab services at Chennai Central, Ani Technologies has got permission

Posted on: 20/Sep/2018 9:46:17 AM
To operate cab services at the Chennai Central Railway Station, the Madras High Court has given permission to Ani Technologies Pvt Ltd now. This would be for a period of 6 months starting from 24th September 2018 to 23rd March 2019.

It must be noted that Justice S. M. Subramaniam directed the southern railways not to give any extension to Ani Technologies to continue the cab operations after 23rd March 2019. The license fee of amount of Rs 40 lakhs for a period of 6 months must be paid by the Ani Technologies within two weeks of time. The southern railway was directed to issue a modified proceeding regarding the above mentioned fee. The court also directed the southern railways to call for a new tender by taking all the necessary steps. Fresh tender notification must be issued by providing opportunities to all the eligible persons including petitioners and finalization of tender must be done before the expiry of 6 months so that new tender would continue the operations without any break. This was later confirmed by the judge. The judge later threw light on the fact that the successful bidder after selection and issuance of acceptance certificate would get the right of legitimate expectations. He would be allowed to operate cab services in Central station.

According to the judge, inadequate and insufficient services would lead to exploitations on the part of other operators and that includes auto operators. There were allegations against these operators particularly in the Chennai Central station area is known. In the interests of the passengers and public, increase in the cab services was imminent. As per the terms and conditions specified in the tender notification, the court was of the opinion that Ani Technologies must be allowed to operate cab services. Financial loss to the southern railway would be there if Ani Technologies was allowed to operate cab services for a further period of one year. Prejudice to the company would be caused by totally preventing Ani technologies from operating the cabs. Hence a balance was needed so that financial revenues to southern railways get protected and honouring the process of tender already conducted was carried out.