FALLING IN LINE: An autorickshaw driver waiting for the tamper-proof test at the Legal Metrology Department's Mehidipatnam centre. PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: Commuters are held to ransom by autorickshaw drivers every time there is a bus strike, rain or if one travels after 11 p.m. But thanks to `rigged' meters, commuters are parting with money even during normal times.

The Legal Metrology Department has finally decided to crack down on autorickshaw drivers who tampered their meters and a deadline has been set till Monday for auto drivers to set right their meters.

Complaints galore

"We have received complaints from consumer organisations, retired government employees, defence personnel etc," said Deputy Controller of Legal Metrology Department Vimal Babu.

Mr. Vimal Babu said that 2,457 cases of rigged meters in autorickshaws were registered from April to September this year, while 18, 257 cases were filed last year, he said.

Reacting to the deadline issued by the Legal Metrology staff, Convenor of the Auto Drivers Joint Action Committee Mohammed Amanullah Khan said that they will not allow the department to check the meters without first increasing the minimum fare.

`Suspend the rule'

We will gherao the legal metrology inspectors and forcibly take them to the nearest petrol pump, and demand that petrol be sold at Rs. 37.94 per litre, the price at which it was available when auto fares were hiked in February 2004. "Since the last pay revision, petrol has become dearer by Rs. 11.25 and so the rule that auto drivers should not collect more than the prescribed rates should stand suspended," Mr. Amanullah Khan said.

Official's contention

Assistant Controller of the Legal Metrology Department T. Rajendra Prasad contends that they should not tamper with the meters even if the minimum fare has not been increased.

The minimum fare can be changed in due course of time after consultation with the authorities concerned, he said.

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