With the taximen's union urging drivers not to re-calibrate their electronic meters as per the latest fare hike, the confusion and heated arguments between drivers and commuters over fares may not end soon.
The Mumbai Taximen's Union is protesting against the exorbitant cost of installing chips (internal circuits) with the revised fare structure. The union is also putting pressure on the transport department to set up a committee to fix a new formula for calculating future fare hikes.
“The total cost of buying and installing the internal circuits or chips should not exceed Rs300, but a taxi driver pays more than Rs1,000 for the same,” said AL Quadros, general secretary of the union.
"The production price of each chip is not more than Rs60. But, the manufacturers sell them to repairers at Rs300 a piece, who inflate the price further by Rs300 though the actual testing might cost not more than Rs50. In addition, drivers have to grease the palms of agents who take these meters to the labs for testing and clearing at the RTOs. The government should intervene to regulate the prices," he added.
The union’s opposition coupled with the non-availability of new chips resulted in taxis with electronic meters displaying the old fares, causing confusion and heated arguments between the drivers and commuters.
Though the transport department intervened and recently issued modified tariff cards, the department admitted that it is only a stop gap arrangement.
"It is not possible for the state transport department to regulate the prices. We will try to ensure that electronic meter firms do not charge exorbitant sums. I have told my officials to ensure that the costs are reasonable," said VN More, state transport commissioner.
