Kathmandu, August 13

A joint monitoring team of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division and National Bureau of Standards and Metrology today detained as many as 115 taxis for plying without computer billing system and refusing to serve commuters by turning on their fare-meters.

According to MTPD, the authorities initiated action against erring cabbies after DIG Sarbendra Khanal took charge as MTPD chief. Though the government made it mandatory for taxis to instal computer billing system, cab operators have been reluctant to comply with this decision.

Issuing a directive on January 17, NBSM had asked taxi operators in Kathmandu Valley to have the system installed by July 22.

MTPD Spokesperson SSP Lokendra Malla said the authorities would release the detained taxis only after they were fitted with the system. MTPD in association with NBSM has made necessary arrangements at its office in Ramshahpath to provide the installation service. Around 7,000 out of almost 9,500 cabs operating in the Valley have installed the system till date.

The government had announced this mandatory provision amid the increasing trend of cabbies overcharging commuters by tampering with fare-meters. The move aims to prevent passengers from being ripped off as the system requires

taxi drivers to issue receipts to their passengers for every ride.

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

In order to strictly enforce the rule, the government has also introduced a provision under which taxi operators cannot renew or transfer ownership of taxi if they have not installed computer billing system.

The government charges cab operators almost Rs 9,000 for the billing system. Meanwhile, the authorities have encouraged passengers to demand the bill after travel and to report to traffic police if the taxi is not equipped with the system.