PUNE, July 22 -- The recent attack on a family of tourists in Nashik by local food stall operators and recurring clashes involving local taxi operators in Lonavala have once again highlighted a troubling reality at several of Maharashtra's popular tourist destinations-the rise of informal local groups that effectively control transport, parking, guiding and other tourism-related services, often leaving visitors with no choice but to comply. While police maintain a formal law-and-order presence, tourists, transport operators and local businesses say that parallel systems of control have taken root over the years. These systems are run by local taxi unions, horse owners' associations, handcart operators, and parking contractors and vendors who allegedly regulate who can operate in their areas and at what price. One of the most widely reported incidents occurred in November 2025 when a Pune-based cab driver was allegedly assaulted and his vehicle vandalised in Varsoli village near Lonavala. The attackers smashed the car windows and assaulted the driver on suspicion that he was picking up local passengers. In Lonavala, local taxi operators largely control transport to sightseeing points, with tourists often unable to use app-based cabs or taxis from Pune or Mumbai for local travel. Cab drivers from Pune and Mumbai say they are reluctant to accept bookings because they fear harassment from them, and as a result, tourists travelling from Pune or Mumbai frequently end up paying significantly higher fares. Outside cab drivers also complain that they receive no return passengers, making trips commercially unviable. Similar gangs operate at the state's other tourist destinations. In Mahabaleshwar, horse owners' associations control rides at major viewpoints, with tourists alleging that rates are largely fixed and leave little room for negotiation. In Matheran, where motor vehicles are prohibited, horses, hand-pulled rickshaws and local porters are virtually the only transport options. Visitors and tour operators say outside service providers have almost no access, making tourists dependent on local associations. Complaints have also surfaced from several forts, temples, hill stations and beaches where parking contractors, local guides and vendors allegedly dictate prices and discourage outside competition. Industry experts say that such systems have evolved over decades in destinations where tourism is the primary source of livelihood for local residents. Many tourists say that the lack of competition leaves them paying inflated rates. "When we reached Lonavala from Pune, our cabbie told us that he could not take us to the sightseeing points because local taxi operators would object. We had to hire a far more expensive local taxi," said Pune resident Rohan Debadwar. Sanjyog Yadav had a similar experience while booking a cab from Pune to Lonavala through an aggregator app. No driver accepted the booking for nearly an hour and when one finally agreed, he demanded Rs.2,000 instead of the app fare of Rs.1,100. "When I questioned the fare, the driver said that 'outside' cabbies were not permitted to pick up or drop passengers in Lonavala and risked being assaulted or having their vehicles vandalised," Yadav said. "While returning, no app-based cab accepted my booking, so I again had to hire a local taxi. Even for sightseeing, I was charged heavily. This is nothing but the loot of tourists." Anita Bhalerao, who recently visited Mahabaleshwar, said her family wanted only a short horse ride for their children but the operator insisted on charging for the full ride. "There was nobody else to approach, so we had to accept the price," she said. Cab drivers from Pune and Mumbai say that even dropping or picking up pre-booked passengers at tourist destinations has become increasingly difficult. "We are not asking for local sightseeing business. We simply want to drop and pick up passengers who have already booked our services. Even that sometimes leads to arguments," said Sachin Patil, a Pune-based tourist cab operator. Pramod Karegaonkar, secretary of the Travel Forum of Maharashtra (TFM), said that tourists should not be deprived of choice. "The objective should be fair competition," he said. "Local operators should get preference where appropriate but tourists must also have the freedom to choose. The government should examine the issue and find a solution that works for all stakeholders." Karegaonkar suggested introducing a permit-based system for outside operators. "If outside operators are registered and follow local regulations, there is no reason why they should face intimidation," he said. "The government should create clear rules instead of allowing these conflicts to continue." The police acknowledge that disputes between local groups and outside operators periodically surface. "If anybody approaches us, we are ready to provide all possible assistance," said Lonavala police inspector Dinesh Tayde....