<p>Bengaluru: With autorickshaw fares in Bengaluru set to rise after nearly four years, drivers are already stressed about the upcoming meter recalibration, which could cost them between Rs 700 and Rs 1,500 for a verification certificate.</p>.<p>The base fare will rise to Rs 36 for the first 1.9 km, up from Rs 30. The fare for every subsequent kilometre will be Rs 18, as against the present Rs 15.</p>.<p>Although the Department of Legal Metrology charges only Rs 150 for meter verification, auto drivers said that the actual cost is much higher.</p>.<p>Meter workshop owners confirm that with the government cracking down on overcharging, drivers are rushing to get meters recalibrated and documents in order.</p>.Auto rides in Bengaluru to get costlier; Here's how it will impact your pocket.<p>Suresh (name changed), a 52-year-old driver from Tannery Road, spent Rs 800 on Tuesday. “The verification fee is Rs 150, but we have to pay extra for checking, repairs and other charges at the meter workshops. If the meter is faulty, the department fines us Rs 500,” he said.</p>.<p>He added that drivers often pay unofficial amounts for faster processing. “If you want it done in a day or two, you may have to pay a bribe of Rs 100 to Rs 250,” he claimed. The verification is mandatory every year.</p>.<p>Mudassir, who runs a meter workshop in Shivajinagar, said that most drivers have not re-verified their meters in three to four years. “Since meter usage is not strictly enforced, many are facing bills of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 now, with fines and repairs,” he said.</p>.Crackdown on Bengaluru autos: 98 vehicles seized, 260 cases filed for overcharging, violations.<p>During the last fare revision in 2021, drivers said they spent around Rs 1,000 on recalibration.</p>.<p><strong>Just 18 inspectors</strong></p>.<p>As of May 2025, Bengaluru has 3,60,899 registered autos, but the Department of Legal Metrology has only 18 inspectors for meter verification.</p>.<p>“We will begin once the transport ministry issues an official notification. For now, verifications are happening only at the headquarters,” a senior official said.</p>.<p>The department uses two test methods — the road test and the simulated road test.<br />“We prefer the road test, which involves driving the vehicle over a precisely measured two-km stretch to check fare accuracy. Each test takes about 10 minutes,” the official added.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: With autorickshaw fares in Bengaluru set to rise after nearly four years, drivers are already stressed about the upcoming meter recalibration, which could cost them between Rs 700 and Rs 1,500 for a verification certificate.</p>.<p>The base fare will rise to Rs 36 for the first 1.9 km, up from Rs 30. The fare for every subsequent kilometre will be Rs 18, as against the present Rs 15.</p>.<p>Although the Department of Legal Metrology charges only Rs 150 for meter verification, auto drivers said that the actual cost is much higher.</p>.<p>Meter workshop owners confirm that with the government cracking down on overcharging, drivers are rushing to get meters recalibrated and documents in order.</p>.Auto rides in Bengaluru to get costlier; Here's how it will impact your pocket.<p>Suresh (name changed), a 52-year-old driver from Tannery Road, spent Rs 800 on Tuesday. “The verification fee is Rs 150, but we have to pay extra for checking, repairs and other charges at the meter workshops. If the meter is faulty, the department fines us Rs 500,” he said.</p>.<p>He added that drivers often pay unofficial amounts for faster processing. “If you want it done in a day or two, you may have to pay a bribe of Rs 100 to Rs 250,” he claimed. The verification is mandatory every year.</p>.<p>Mudassir, who runs a meter workshop in Shivajinagar, said that most drivers have not re-verified their meters in three to four years. “Since meter usage is not strictly enforced, many are facing bills of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 now, with fines and repairs,” he said.</p>.Crackdown on Bengaluru autos: 98 vehicles seized, 260 cases filed for overcharging, violations.<p>During the last fare revision in 2021, drivers said they spent around Rs 1,000 on recalibration.</p>.<p><strong>Just 18 inspectors</strong></p>.<p>As of May 2025, Bengaluru has 3,60,899 registered autos, but the Department of Legal Metrology has only 18 inspectors for meter verification.</p>.<p>“We will begin once the transport ministry issues an official notification. For now, verifications are happening only at the headquarters,” a senior official said.</p>.<p>The department uses two test methods — the road test and the simulated road test.<br />“We prefer the road test, which involves driving the vehicle over a precisely measured two-km stretch to check fare accuracy. Each test takes about 10 minutes,” the official added.</p>