About 20,000 autorickshaws are plying in the twin cities without getting their digital fare meters recalibrated with the revised tariff creating confusion among passengers. This is forcing many passengers to pay more as against actual cost for the distance travelled.
Of the 77,000 autorickshaws in the GHMC limits, 37,000 recalibrated their auto meters, while 10,000 obtained permit to ferry only schoolchildren with the December18 deadline. Over 5,000 vehicles were in the custody of financiers for failing to repay loans and owners of 5,000 autos were not operating them due to various reasons, officials said.
A few months ago, the government had revised auto fares and made it clear that digital meters in all the autorickshaws should be recalibrated with minimum fare of Rs.16 by November 16. For each subsequent kilometre travelled, the fare was increased by Rs.9.
Arrangements were made to recalibrate meters at Singareni Colony, Attapur and other places.
In view of problems being faced by drivers, the government had extended the time till this month., yet a majority of them had failed.
City Joint Transport Commissioner G. Panduranga Rao said a special drive was taken up in the past one week to take action against the errant drivers.
Action plan
“We will chalk out an action plan in coordination with the RTA and traffic officials to initiate stern action against drivers who failed to adhere to rules,” City Assistant Controller, Legal Metrology, P.S.R.N.T Swamy added.
