MUMBAI: Although fare hikes were announced last week, the chips with the recalibrated revised fares for electronic meters have not yet arrived and this could delay the recalibration process across the Mumbai metropolitan region, sources said.
The process of recalibration will ensure that commuters can see the actual final fares on the meter and not rely on the temporary tariff cards for converting old fares to new fares. RTO officials said that the entire recalibration process for 2.32 lakh autos and over 30,000 taxis has to be completed by November end.
A few autos in the suburbs continue to charge old fares till the time their e-meters are recalibrated. “This is good for local passengers as it saves us 10% costs as compared to revised fares,” said a commuter.
Mumbai Taximen’s Union has petitioned the state transport department, complaining about meter repairers overcharging — more than double the normal rates — to recalibrate e-meters with revised fares for taxis. “We have written to senior IAS officers from the transport department to intervene and ensure that cabbies are not fleeced during the meter recalibration process,” said union general secretary A L Quadros. “While it will take around Rs 500 for every vehicle for meter recalibration, the price demanded by few meter repairers was Rs 1000-Rs 1200,” he alleged.
The process of recalibration will ensure that commuters can see the actual final fares on the meter and not rely on the temporary tariff cards for converting old fares to new fares. RTO officials said that the entire recalibration process for 2.32 lakh autos and over 30,000 taxis has to be completed by November end.
A few autos in the suburbs continue to charge old fares till the time their e-meters are recalibrated. “This is good for local passengers as it saves us 10% costs as compared to revised fares,” said a commuter.
Mumbai Taximen’s Union has petitioned the state transport department, complaining about meter repairers overcharging — more than double the normal rates — to recalibrate e-meters with revised fares for taxis. “We have written to senior IAS officers from the transport department to intervene and ensure that cabbies are not fleeced during the meter recalibration process,” said union general secretary A L Quadros. “While it will take around Rs 500 for every vehicle for meter recalibration, the price demanded by few meter repairers was Rs 1000-Rs 1200,” he alleged.
