Auto meters: Govt in knots over tech issues

Auto meters: Govt in knots over tech issues
ID cards for auto drivers
Revised auto fares in Bangalore from March 15
VIJAY TIMES NEWS

Bangalore: The Legal Metrology ( W eights and Measures) Department is entangled in the technicalities involved in recalibrating auto meters to match the new fare structure which lays down a minimum fare of Rs 10 for an unusual distance of 1.6 km and Rs 6 for subsequent km.

Having received the fare conversion chart on T uesday , K N Seetharamappa, Assistant Controller of Legal Metrology (Auto and T axi Unit), told Vijay Times, W e are studying the technicalities and depending upon whether these conversions can be incorporated or not, we will make a recommendation to the Regional T ransport Authority .

He pointed out that the conversion now requires recalibration to match the minimum fare of Rs 10 for a distance of 1.6 km instead of the earlier 2 km and Rs 6 for every subsequent km instead of the earlier Rs 5.

Hubli-Dharwad: Effective from April 1, the State government has decided to introduce auto fare meters in the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad.

There, the minimum fare has been fixed at Rs 8.80 for 1.6 km and Rs 4.60 for every subsequent km, Seetharamappa said.

Bangalore: With the Regional T ransport Authority making display of cards mandatory for autorickshaw drivers from April 1, the traffic police have embarked on the daunting task of distribution, handing over 5,000 cards so far against the targeted 70,000.

The cards will carry details like name, photograph and blood group of the driver besides vehicle and licence details, to ensure accountability besides making it easier to have a grip on erring drivers.

M A Saleem, DCP T raffic (East), told Vijay Times, Our effort has been to educate auto drivers about the card s benefits so that all 70,000 of them collect it from us and display it mandatorily from April 1.

The traffic police have also been distributing pamphlets educating drivers about do s and don ts besides urging them to furnish their details at the earliest with the authorities concerned so as to avoid a lastminute rush.