Digital meters in autos still a distant away

Digital meters in autos still a distant away

Lack of government will to enact a new law mandating autos to switch to digital ones and resistance from auto drivers is found to be the reason for this situation.

Deccan Herald

Looks like it will be a while before autorickshaws in the City switch from mechanical auto meters to digital auto meters. Although tampering of digital meters is less when compared to mechanical ones the auto drivers claim they’re in no position to invest in the digital one.

Of the 69,000 autos that ply on the City’s roads, 57,000 still run on mechanical meters and only the rest are fitted with digital ones.

However, the causes for this situation are not far to seek — lack of will on the part of the government to enact a new law that enforces autos operating on mechanical meters to switch to digital meters and the resistance from the autorickshaw drivers. For the latter, the proposal to switch to digital meters is expensive because mechanical meters cost Rs 3,800 while the digital ones cost Rs 5,000 and above. Besides, the repair costs for digital meters are also high.

This means that auto commuters will have to cough up more money.
Officials with the Transport Department say there is no provision in the Motor Vehicles Act to strictly enforce the rule that autos with mechanical meters change to digital meters. “However, we have insisted that the new autos be fitted with digital meters. For drivers operating autos on mechanical meters, it is left to them,” said an official.

According to Transport Commissioner Mr Om Prakash, the Department cannot enforce a law which mandates old autos to switch to digital meters. Firstly, because one is not sure whether digital meters are tamper proof and secondly because drivers say that it is difficult for them to invest in a digital meter and that such an investment would render the mechanical meters unfit for use.”

As of now permits for registration of autos have been restricted to 70,000. A special permission for an additional 5,000 autos was issued in 2003-04 but this was meant only for autos fitted with LPG.

“Autos registered in 1991-92 will soon complete their road worthiness. Then the drivers will have to buy new autos that come fitted with digital meters. This is the only way one can see digital meters replace mechanical meters,” said an official.
Autorickshaw drivers, on the other hand, refuse to budge an inch on the issue of switching to digital meters. “We barely have enough to feed our family. From where will we mobilise funds to invest in a digital meter? Who will bear costs of repairs of these meters? Isn’t having to get retrofit kits fitted enough burden on us? We don’t mind driving the new autos that come fitted with these meters but the old mechanical meters will remain,” said Vice-President of Autorickshaw Driver’s Union Mr Puttalingaiah.