As the hiked autorickshaw fare set to come into force on December 20, make sure the auto driver carries a fare card. And that too a certified one from the Legal Metrology department.

For the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) that hiked the fares, has granted three months’ time to get the auto meters calibrated and till then the passengers will be at the mercy of the auto drivers.

Going by last year’s experience of several complaints about auto drivers showing fake fare cards to passengers and fleecing them, this time the RTA has made it mandatory to get a certified fare card from RTO, Shantinagar office dedicated to autorickshaws. 

Available on website

For the convenience of the commuters, the RTA is also going to upload the new fare card on its website.

Speaking with Deccan Herald, RTO Jayanagar and the secretary of the RTA Gnyanendra Kumar said, “We had many complaints last time when the auto fares were hiked. This time, we will provide the certified rate card which will have the rates prevalent before the hike and the rates after the hike calculated for every kilometre. Still if there is any complaint against any autorickshaw overcharging or showing a fake rate card, we will take action immediately against the driver.” “There will be intensified enforcement and regular checks by the joint teams of RTOs and the team of Legal Metrology department to keep tabs on meter tampering,” said G C Parkash, chairman of RTA and Deputy Commissioner (Urban).

Periodical inspections

Seema K, Assistant Controller, Auto and Taxi Unit, Legal Metrology department, said, “We book almost 150-200 cases a month against the manufacturers who do the meter tampering and we are keeping tabs on the auto drivers as well. We are holding periodical inspections as well to enforce the correct meter calibration. Besides, the autorickshaws have to annually get the meters calibrated and seal checked.”

As per an estimate, there are about 20,000 autorickshaws in the City that ply illegally without permits from the Regional Transport Offices. 

Excess fare

Everyday, each of the Regional Transport Offices get at least five to six complaints pertaining to charging of excess fare, meter showing excess fare due to tampering and auto driver refusing to go to a particular area.

Calibrators see a windfall

With 1.2 lakh-odd autorickshaws in the City set to get their meters calibrated, its boom time for the meter calibrators. 

The autorickshaw drivers have a choice to get their auto meters calibrated at the meter manufacturer’s centre or at the Legal Metrology department but as a mandate they have to get a certificate from the Legal Metrology department after the meter is inspected, stating that the calibration has been done accurately. 

While the Legal Metrology department charges Rs 100 for calibrating single meter, there are several others across the City charging anything between Rs 300-400 for getting the meters tampered below the 1.9 kilometres.