28 autos in western suburbs begin charging new fares

MUMBAI: After the revision of fares, the first batch of 28 autos with reset meters hit the roads between Bandra and Dahisar on Monday evening. All these autos are now entitled to charge the new fare, which begins at Rs 17 for the first 1.5km.
The transport department has issued directives to reset meters according to the registration numbers of vehicles, beginning with those that end in 0, followed by those ending in 1 and so on.The entire process will take a month.
“By Wednesday, at least 6,000 autos and taxis will be fitted with reset meters across Mumbai and they will begin charging revised fares,” said MMRTA secretary P G Bhalerao. “We are making all efforts to speed up the process and we reset 28 meters before time. Those vehicles also underwent stringent road tests and it is confirmed that the newly changed meters are fool-proof.” For commuters who still have complaints, can call on RTO’s tollfree number 1800-22-0110, Bhalerao has said.
Monday witnessed a huge rush among drivers, whose vehicle numbers ended in 0, to get their meters reset as they all want to charge the new rates as soon as possible. After the revision of tariffs, auto fare has gone up from Rs 15 to Rs 17 for a minimum distance of 1.5 km and it will rise from Rs 9.87 to Rs 11.33 for every subsequent km. For taxis, the minimum fare has increased Rs 19 to Rs 21 and from Rs 12.35 to Rs 13.96 for every additional km.
Besides the test tracks at Lokhandwala in Andheri (W) where the 28 autos were checked, he added, two new facilities have been set up behind Inorbit Mall in Malad and near IC Colony in Borivli; the three will test nearly 60,000 auto meters in the western suburbs till mid-September. “We have set up exclusive tracks for autos and taxis at Vikhroli for vehicles registered in the eastern suburbs. Additionally, autos/taxis fitted with new meters and those coming for annual clearance have been asked to visit the Wadala tracks,” said regional transport officer (Wadala) B I Ajri. “As many as 1,200-1,500 meters will be changed daily and by September-end, all taxis and autos will have reset meters.”
Tardeo RTO boss K T Golani said his staff would work overtime from 6am and would seal meters in taxis at three tracks in the island city.