13 e-meters rejected for faulty reading

On the first working day since installation of electronic meters became mandatory to renew fitness certificates of autorickshaws, 13 e-meters of the same make failed to pass the test at the regional transport office (RTO) in Wadala on Monday as they were showing wrong fares, RTO officials said.

On the first working day since installation of electronic meters became mandatory to renew fitness certificates of autorickshaws, 13 e-meters of the same make failed to pass the test at the regional transport office (RTO) in Wadala on Monday as they were showing wrong fares, RTO officials said. The manufacturing company, however, blamed the faulty test track being used by the RTO.

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Of the 33 autos fitted with e-meters that approached the Wadala RTO at the Eastern Express Highway test track, 13 that had installed e-meters made by Super Electronic Meter Mfg Co failed the test. “We did not reject registration, just kept it on hold as we have some doubts about calibrations,” said Abhay Deshpande, deputy regional transport officer, Wadala.

“Super’s e-meter is showing different fares than other manufacturers,” Deshpande said, and added that the RTO will check the test track along with representatives of e-meter manufacturers on Tuesday.

But Super officials do not agree with RTO’s assessments. “Our meter is showing the correct fare. It shows Rs15 fare, once a distance of 2km is travelled. The RTO officials are saying it should be Rs14,” said Naved Ansari, a dealer of Super e-meters. “E-meters of other manufacturers may be showing the wrong fare. Our meter has passed the MIT [Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune] test.”

State govt reaffirms Welfare Board promise for auto drivers

The state government has claimed that it will set up a welfare board for auto drivers soon. “We are working towards it and it will be done shortly,” Gulabrao Deokar, minister of state for transport, told the Legislative Council on Monday.

Replying to a calling attention notice raised by council members, Deokar said that the state government had appointed 11 enterprises for the distribution of electronic meters across the state.