Over 2,000 cab operators yet to instal digital billing system

Kathmandu, June 19

The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) has warned taxi operators not to ply the roads without installing the computer billing system in their cabs.

Though NBSM had last year made it mandatory for cabs to introduce computer billing system, many taxi operators are still not complying with this rule. In the last one week, NBSM has penalised almost 200 such cabs.

“We have been carrying out special inspection of taxis by partnering with the traffic police. Those cab operators who have not installed the computer billing system are being fined on the spot,” informed Bishwobabu Pudasaini, director general of NBSM.

As per government statistics, 10,600 cabs have been registered in the country so far. NBSM officials said that more than 2,000 taxis are still plying the country’s roads without the computer billing system.

Due to rising complaints regarding cabs cheating commuters, NBSM had made it mandatory for taxi operators to instal the digital billing system and issue fare receipt to commuters. However, NBSM’s inspection has found that even those cab operators who have installed such billing system are not issuing receipts to taxi commuters.

The receipt incorporates information like distance travelled, total fare and registration number of the cab.

Both NBSM and the traffic police have been urging passengers to demand the bill after their travel and to report to the traffic police if the taxi is not equipped with the system.

Meanwhile, Pudasaini said that all taxis will have the digital billing system within a few months.