Tika R Pradhan

Kathmandu, March 23:

The Bureau of Standards and Metrology has penalised as many as 170 taxis for

tampering with their meters. The bureau has found the tampering while re-calibrating the meters of the taxis as per the recently increased rate of fare.

Out of some 2,700 taxis whose meters were re-calibrated, 170 were found tampered and they were fined Rs 2,000 each.

According to an officer at the Taxi and Tempo Unit of the bureau, meters could be suspended for one week if the meters were found tampered for the second time. He also added that the meters could be seized if the owners were found involved in serious transgression. According to Rakesh Jha, inspector at the unit, a total of 55 meters have been seized so far.

Shree Krishna Shrestha, director general of the bureau, said the department would soon conduct regular surprise check of meter-taxis at various parts of the Valley.

Such checking was disrupted in the past due to obstructions on the road with the rise of political movements. It may be recalled that one of the senior officers of the department was thrashed as well by a group of taxi drivers in this connection.

With the change in political situation in the country, officers at the unit said the environment has now become conducive to resume action against corrupt activities in this sector. Despite complaints of cheating by taxis, the bureau stated that there are certain legal hurdles to make automatic digital printers mandatory in all meter-taxis. “As the case is before the Supreme Court, the department has not made it mandatory,” Shrestha said.

However, advocate Jyoti Baniya, who filed a writ petition at the appellate court demanding mandatory provision of bills/printers in taxis, claims that there is no legal barrier for the bureau to implement the provision. Baniya said it is just the matter of providing bill/receipt for their service due to which the passengers can track them for their lost goods and whenever they feel they are cheated.

Meanwhile, inspector Jha said his unit would also entertain oral complaints from passengers if they report the cheating along with the plate number immediately to its officers. Jha said over 500 newly registered taxis have installed automatic digital printers and it is mandatory for every new taxi to have a bill printer.

There are a total of 6,704 registered taxis in Kathmandu.