E-meters in autos now?

Unions have agreed to get them installed in 20 auto rickshaws on a trial basis

Auto rickshaw unions in the city have finally agreed to install electronic meters on a trial basis in 20 auto rickshaws. The unions said the meters would be extended to other autos only if the experiment is a success.
The auto rickshaw unions had hitherto opposed the state transport department's moveu00a0 of installing electronic meters citing the expense involved and claiming that they could also be tampered.


Glimpse of the future: If the trial succeeds, every auto rickshaw in the
city will have such meters. File Pic

Minister of State for Transport Gulabrao Deokar, in a meeting with the unions and transport officials held recently, directed manufacturers of electronic meters to ensure that their models cannot be tampered with.
It was also decided that theu00a0 meter should beu00a0 made in such a way that it stops functioning if it is tampered with. This would compel the driver to bring it to the manufacturer to get it rectified, he had said.

Though not convinced, the unions plan to use the trial to prove electronic meters are not foolproof.u00a0 "There are several problems with the electronic meters. Once the clock strikes midnight, the meter should reflect an increase in fare by 25 per cent. However, that does not happen most of the time and the driver has to manually adjust the meter after 12 am. If someone hires an auto at 10 pm and continues to travel till 12.30 am, how do we ensure that the meter reflects the night charge?

It does not take much to tamper with the meter either. Sometimes, the pulse of the engine, based on which the meter calculates the fare, can be tampered with," said Thampy Kurian, an auto rickshaw union leader.
"We will prove the meters can be tampered during the trials. We will also impose some just conditions on the meter manufacturers. If the meter breaks down, the manufacturer will have to compensate the driver."