Kathmandu, September 6

Metropolitan Traffic Police Division today said it booked as many as 1,114 taxi drivers over a period of one-and-a-half months (mid-July to September 5) for violating traffic rules.

MTPD said traffic cops had intensified action against unscrupulous cabbies as they showed no sign of adhering to the rules. Despite recent police crackdown, cabbies continue to fleece passengers in Kathmandu valley.

Traffic personnel, both in uniform and civil dress 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 defunct metre and bargaining over fare without turning on the metre.

Traffic police have been keeping a close eye on taxis in daytime and at night when they try to fleece passengers taking advantage of emergency situation and non-availability of public vehicles.

The crackdown was aimed at deterring cabbies from overcharging and cheating commuters. Around 10,000 taxis operate in the valley.

According to MTPD, on an average, 30 cabbies were booked on a daily basis for fleecing commuters. Traffic police said they have been receiving more complaints from passengers, as traffic cops were able to win the trust of the people by taking action against fraudulent cabbies.

MTPD has appealed to passengers to call the traffic control room (103) or send SMS to 9851295100 or file a complaint through MTPD’s Facebook page to initiate action against fraudulent taxi drivers. Cabbies who refuse to serve passengers by turning on fare-metre have been referred to the Transport Management Office for action and are fined Rs 2,000.

If a taxi driver is found operating with a tampered metre, the National Bureau of Standards and Metrology may impose a fine of up to Rs 5,000, along with a warning for the first instance.

Earlier in May this year, traffic police said they had taken action against 10,787 errant cabbies in Kathmandu valley. Cabbies facing legal action for violation of traffic rules outnumbered the taxis that were registered in the valley as there were repeat offenders. Of late, traffic cops have also stepped up action against drunk driving.