Taxi union wants RTO to get act together

MUMBAI: Upset and disgruntled by the confusion surrounding the recalibration of electronic meters, the biggest union of taxi drivers in the city has demanded that the whole process be postponed till the new chips are available in the market.

“We have waited two years for a fare hike. We can wait a little longer,” said AL Quadros, leader of the Mumbai Taximen’s Union, adding that the unavailability of chips and overcharging by meter repair men was becoming a major issue.

With the 45-day deadline looming, the motor vehicle department wants a quick end to the conflict between the autorickshaw, taxi unions and the meter repairers.

The department has called a meeting of all e-meters manufactures, regional transport officers and deputy regional transport officers from all RTOS in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region on Thursday.

Sources said the department will discuss fixing the rate of the new chips.

The unions had complained that they were being charged Rs700 to Rs800 for the chips instead of Rs500. They claimed the department was turning a blind eye to their problems.

On Wednesday, members of the MTU protested outside shops in Khar, Kurla, Dindoshi, Sewri and few other places. “They [the meter repairers] finally returned the additional amount they had charged and also gave in writing that they will charge according to the rate fixed by the transport department,” said Quadros.

The recalibration of e-meters picked up slightly in autorickshaws on Wednesday, while taxis continued to lag because of the chips not being available.

On Wednesday, e-meters of 3,338 autorickshaws and 369 taxis were recalibrated at all three RTOS in the city.

Meanwhile, the Tardeo RTO requested all taxi unions to ask their members to bring the vehicles for testing at the new test track in Wadala instead of crowding at Worli.

“Nobody is turning up at Wadala. There can be major traffic issues if all taxi drivers go to Worli,” said KT Golani, regional transport official, Tardeo.

Autorickshaw drivers have now alleged the involvement of agents at the test tracks of Andheri and Wadala RTOS. “Agents are charging about Rs300 from auto drivers. Those who don’t go through the agents fail the test,” said KK Tiwari, an auto union leader.