20 days after hike, taxis don't have e-meters with new fares

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) granted a fare hike to taxis in the city around 20 days ago. Most companies manufacturing electronic meters, however, have failed to provide the software necessary for recalibrations.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) granted a fare hike to taxis in the city around 20 days ago. Most companies manufacturing electronic meters, however, have failed to provide the software necessary for recalibrations.

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There are around 20,0000 e-meters that have been fitted in taxis across the city. "Taxi drivers are making heavy losses because of this," said Sunil Sathe, vice president of the Taxi Chalak Malak Sena.

Dealers blame the manufacturers for the problem. "Taxi drivers ask for the software everyday but we cannot do anything because the manufacturers are not ready with it," said an e-meter dealer from the eastern suburbs.

Manufacturers, on the other hand, seem to be having problems writing the program. "This time, the MMRTA rounded off the fare table. Therefore, manufacturers are facing problems calculating the resultant fare," said an RTO official.

Apart from this problem, manufacturers said transport authorities are unhappy with the cost to recalibrate the meters. "We are ready with the program but transport authorities want to pay a very low price," said Kirti Nair, executive of 'Sansui Electronic meter'.

Taxi unions want the cost to be not more than Rs300. But manufacturers have priced the program at Rs500. "Transport authorities have called for a meeting on this issue," said Nair.

The Mumbai Taximen's Union said it will not recalibrate e-meters if manufacturers quote a high price. The union will meet on April 8 to decide on its future course of action.