Recalibration rush as city RTOs go on detaining spree

On the second day of its drive against vehicles plying without recalibrated e-meters the city, the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) detained 227 autos and 19 taxis on Monday.

On the second day of its drive against vehicles plying without recalibrated e-meters the city, the Regional Transport Offices (RTO) detained 227 autos and 19 taxis on Monday.

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Reacting quickly to the crackdown worried autos and taxi drivers rushed to the RTOs to get their meters corrected.

The RTO’s flying squads checked 2,337 autorickshaws and 406 taxis in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on Tuesday. In addition to the autos and taxis that were detained, more than 100 autos were booked for offences such as not displaying tariff cards and identity cards.

According to sources, the squads from the Tardeo RTO took action against all 19 detained taxis, while the other two RTOs did not find a single taxi without a recalibrated e-meter. The Andheri RTO booked 21 autos for various offences including uncalibrated meters, but the Wadala RTO found no offenders.

On first day of its drive, the RTOs had detained 231 autos and 28 taxis for plying without re-calibrated meters.

A total of 830 auto meters and 404 taxi meters were recalibrated at the testing tracks of the Tardeo, Andheri and Wadala RTOs. RTO sources said the number of vehicles that turned up on Tuesday was 40% more than the number that had come in during the last fortnight.

“Now, auto and taxi drivers have understood that there is no option but to get their meters recalibrated. Failing to do so will cost them dearly,” said a senior RTO official.