All taxis in city need to have e-meters by May next year

By May 1, all black-and-yellow taxis will have to be fitted with electronic meters, the state has ordered, Kailash Korde reports.

By May 1, all black-and-yellow taxis will have to be fitted with electronic meters, the state has ordered.

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In a notification issued on Thursday, the transport department has directed that by April 30, 2013, all taxis should be fitted with e-meters. There are around 44,000 taxis that ply in Mumbai, of which 15,000 still use mechanical meters.

Transport authorities want all taxis to run on e-meters before the next tariff hike, which is due in May. In fact, as per the state government notification, from December 1, 2012, e-meters will have to be compulsorily fitted in all cabs when they go in for the annual fitness test, or by April 30, 2013, whichever comes earlier. E-meters are already mandatory for new cabs.

Transport commissioner VN More said: “This is aimed at improving services for commuters.”

Taxi unions are unhappy with the directive. “The Hakim committee suggested August 31, 2013, as the deadline. An earlier deadline will financially burden drivers,” said AL Quadros, general secretary of Mumbai Taximens’ Union.

Officials clarified that the committee suggested April 2013 as the deadline for Mumbai.