From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, July 27: After proposing several things and later backing down under pressure from the autorickshaw drivers, Karnakaka’s Transport Minister R Ashok has now come out with the proposal to make it mandatory for all autorickshaws to have digital electronic meters all over the State instead of the present mechanical devices.

Addressing a news conference on Monday, he said the state government wanted to make digital electronic meters compulsory for all autorickshaws being operated in the state as part of the plans to prevent autorickshaw drivers from holding helpless commuters to ransom by manipulating or tampering with the mechanical devices which are presently being used in the autorickshaws.

In order to persuade the autorickshaw drivers to accept the government’s proposal, the minister said the government would be offering a subsidy of Rs 1,000 each to all the existing autorickshaw owners to install digital electronic meters.
The minister, however, was careful to avoid provoking the autorickshaw drivers lobby by to install digital meters and try its best to persuade them to accept the proposal. Unlike mechanical taxi meters, digital taxi meters cannot be tampered with and passengers can expect a fair fare display.

The cost of each meter would be in the rage of Rs 3000 to Rs 3,500, he said and indicated that the government would offer a cash subsidy of Rs 1,000 to the existing autorickshaws. However, new permits for autorickshaws will be given only to three-wheelers with digital electronic meters as and when new permits are being given.

After taking afinal decision, the government would issue a notification as per the Karnataka Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2009, to make it compulsory for all autorickshaws plying in public places to be fitted with taxi meters.

The rule would be first enforced in Bangalore city first as the city has the highest number of autorickshaws. The installation of digital electronic meters would prevent extortion of money from commuters by drivers.

New autorickshaws will be issued permits only if they are fitted with digital meters. In the case of old autorickshaws, a cut of year or date would be fixed to prevent current autorickshaw owners/drivers from avoiding installing digital meters.

However, autorickshaw drivers have been opposing the government’s proposal, which they claim was no use to passengers.
They alleged that the move was not aimed at helping passengers, but to help meter manufacturing firms.

The Minister has no clue about what types of action to be taken against autorickshaw drivers who refused to come to destinations sought by passengers.

As per the rule, passengers are empowered to file complaints with the nearest police station against drivers. But what happens next after lodging of the complaints with the police is not clear.

A suitable solution would be found to this problem during the meeting with autorickshaw drivers, Ashok said adding that the government was keen to protect the interest of commuters while helping existing autrorickshaw owners with financial help.