Meter pe kab chalte

Auto drivers charge a bomb

Meters not calibrated to new tariff

Only 10,000 out of 1,20,000 autos have new calibrated meters

Even those with calibrated meters refuse to run them

No co-ordination between RTA and legal metrology

Passenger: Auto, Panjagutta janeka

Auto driver: Rs 250 hota

Passenger: Meter pe nahin chalte?

Auto driver: Saab, yeh naya meter nahin hain, naya meter main itna hi hota!

The passenger got on board the auto, as he was getting late to work. This is a common scene we see day in and day out. Owing to the demands of the auto drivers’ union, the government increased the auto fares in the month of February. Calibration and setting up of the meters was supposed to be completed within three months. It has been four months since the order, but only 10,000 of the 1,20,000 autos have the newly calibrated meters.

The government gave directions to Road Transport Authority (RTA) and Legal Metrology to calibrate the meters as per the changed tariff and affix the same and the deadline given to them was April 3. Sadly, due to lack of coordination between the departments, the auto drivers are fleecing the common man.

“No auto driver charges by meter. They say that the meter is not calibrated to the new tariff and blatantly demand a round figure. The distance between my house and place I work is 5.5 km. Going by the revised fares, I have to pay only Rs 64 but I have to shell out anything between Rs 100 and Rs 120. Sadly the route doesn’t have public transport,” laments Sunil, a private employee.

Who is responsible?

It’s the duty of the legal metrology department to calibrate the meters as per the changed tariffs and seal them. The RTA has to provide the basic amenities to make the changes and has to ensure that the auto drivers get their meters calibrated.

The legal metrology department has given licences to 20 mechanics in the city. The auto drivers have to visit these mechanics to calibrate their meters and the officers of the legal metrology will then seal the meters. Reportedly there is no coordination between the mechanics and the officers.

The RTA has to crack the whip on the autos running without sealed meters. But no such action has been undertaken so far.

The legal metrology department has set up centres at Attapur, Singareni Colony, Nagole and Trimulgherry. However currently, only centres at Attapur and Singareni Colony are actively working.

“No auto drivers are visiting the centres at Nagole and Trimulgherry. We had no option but to close the centres,” said an officer with legal metrology team.

Licensed mechanics charging a ransom

All the auto drivers’ unions complain that the licensed mechanics are charging rates according to their whims and fancies. They say that this is precisely the reason why no auto driver is coming forward.

“Earlier the mechanics used to charge Rs 250 for calibration. Now they are demanding Rs 350 to Rs 450,” they added.

This is being used as an excuse by auto drivers to fleece the customers. The drivers who have calibrated the meters demand Rs 20-30 extra over the revised rates.

“They say that they had spent a bomb for changing the meter and also use the same rhetoric of getting no customers at the destination where I wish to get off,” laments Raghu, a software employee.

Whatever might be the reason, whoever might be responsible at the end of the day, it’s the passengers who are taken for a ride.