Kathmandu, August 2

Despite police action cabbies continue to cheat passengers by charging non-metered fare arbitrarily, in Kathmandu valley.

Metropolitan Traffic Police Division said it took action against 191 rogue taxi drivers over a period of one week and that the enforcement agency had stepped up action against unscrupulous cabbies after they showed no sign of adherence to traffic laws and rules.

Traffic personnel, both in uniform and civvies, have been deployed in busy areas, including hospitals and bus parks to monitor rule violations like operating taxis without mandatory seal on fare-metre, refusal to provide short distance service to passengers, tampering with and using dysfunctional meters, and bargaining for non-metred rates.

Traffic police have been keeping a close watch on taxis in daytime and at night whenever they try to fleece passengers taking advantage of emergencies and non-availability of public vehicles, said MTPD In-charge Basant Kumar Pant. He warned that crackdown would be continued as a campaign.

Over 9,000 out of around 10,500 taxis registered with Transport Management Office are operating in the valley. According to MTPD, more than 11,000 cabbies were booked for bargaining with passengers on fare, refusing to provide short distance services, tampering with fare-meters and overcharging, since 6 December 2018. Most of the cabbies were repeat offenders.

MTPD said anyone may call the traffic control room (103) or send SMS to 9851295100 or file a complaint through MTPD’s Facebook page for action against dishonest taxi drivers. Cabbies who refuse to serve passengers by turning on fare-meter are referred to the Transport Management Office for action and are fined Rs 2,000 each. If a taxi driver is found operating with a tampered meter, the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology may impose on him/her a fine of up to Rs 5,000, along with a warning.