Regulation of three-wheeler transport due soon
A legal framework covering three-wheeler passenger services, to safeguard drivers and passengers, will be iset up within the next three months, the general manager of Road Passenger Transport Authority (RPTA) in the Western Province, K.G.R. Manujith, said.
As per the Gazette issued on regulating three wheeler taxi services, indicate that breaching of a rule given in the notification as an offence and fines charged for the violation, failed to elucidate on the regulatory process and the law enforcement authority such as Police and Consumer Affairs Authority, to uphold the regulations.
Mr. Manujith said early failures in implementing the gazette notification on regulating three-wheeler taxis were predominantly due to lack of clarity over the provisions.
He said the authority was focusing on encouraging more three-wheeler drivers to co-oporate with the registration process, formalise the industry and assure passenger safety.
Mr. Manujith said there were more than 600,000 three-wheelers functioning in the Western Province but only 250,000 were registered for passenger transport, of which only 180,000 had meters.
RPTA officials are conducting discussions with law-enforcing institutions and three-wheeler associations violations of laws, police fines and the rights of passengers and drivers Mr. Manujith said.
Long overdue in regulating Three Wheeler taxis initiated the registration process last Thursday (June 16) at divisional authority institutes and divisional secretariats in Western Province, which required to be renewed annually. The relevant gazette notification comprised set of 30 rules, with aim to streamline three wheeler passenger transport services, was issued by the Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority in 2013.
Mr. Manujith said the standard fee allowed to be charged by a three-wheeler for hire is Rs. 50 for the first kilometer while the rate from second kilometer onwards should not exceed Rs. 40.
Currently, some three-wheelers are not involved in passenger transport but take up hires to make an extra income. Under the new regulations, only three-wheelers and drivers with permits from RPTA would be allowed to transport passengers. RPTA Chairman Nuwan Wanigaratne said the new laws would enable RPTA officers to investigate non-metered three-wheelers in use for passenger transport and to take action against drivers who misuse the meter for their advantage.He said that through registration of vehicles the RPTA would be able to know the actual number of three-wheelers involved in passenger transport.
He said newly-registered three-wheelers will be granted an insurance coverage of Rs. 500,000 with an additional Rs. 100,000 for each passenger in the event of an accident.