The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Auto fare revision throws up new problems for police, RTO

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 27, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Auto fare revision throws up new problems for police, RTO

Staff Reporter

Demand to calibrate meters according to revised fare

KOCHI: The revision of fare for autorickshaws and taxis has thrown up new problems for the City Police and the Regional Transport Authority.

Autorickshaw drivers in the city have started collecting the new fare, but the meters have not been readied accordingly. The fare revision comes at a time when the City Police have been running campaigns to crack down on autorickshaws plying without proper calibrated digital meters.

On its part, the RTO has initiated measures to streamline city permits following complaints of anti-social behaviour by autorickshaw drivers.

With its hands full, the department is not in a position to take up complaints related to the new fare.

"It will definitely take some time to calibrate the meters according to the new fare scheme. This has to be done and sealed after inspection by the Department of Legal Metrology," said M.N. Prabhakaran, Regional Transport Officer.

The public can lodge complaints regarding the fare with the RTO, said Mr. Prabhakaran.

However, autorickshaw drivers feel there is little space for public complaints, as the new fare system suits both workers and the public.

"After the approval of the new fares, there is no reason for the autorickshaw drivers to resist using digital meters. We will now support any drive for strict implementation of fare meters across the State," said C.C. Siddharthan, district president of Autorickshaw Drivers Federation (AITUC).

The City Police have also decided to grant time to autorickshaw drivers to correct the meters.

This means that the ongoing drive against autorickshaws without meters will be temporarily suspended.

The force had been booking autorickshaw drivers who charged excessive rates from passengers.

In a meeting of trade union representatives and transport officials, it was made clear that the use of meters was mandatory, irrespective of whether the autorickshaw operated within the city limits or in panchayat limits.

"We are planning to take up a new drive, in the light of the revised fares, to book offenders. But then, that will have to wait for sometime," said P. Vijayan, City Police Commissioner.

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