Transport dept to calibrate taxi meters as per revised fare within a month

Kolkata: The state Transport department has set a deadline of one month to complete calibration of taxi meters as per the new slab of fare.

A high level meeting was held in the Kasba office of the state Transport department in this connection. Senior officials from the company that will carry out the work of meter calibration, representatives of taxi unions and senior officials of the Transport department were present in the meeting, where all sorts of issues related to calibration of taxi meters were discussed.

It may be mentioned that the state government has recently given its nod to increase the taxi fare following the steep hike in diesel prices. The minimum fare of taxi is Rs 30, which is for the first 2 km and for every next 200 metres, Rs 3 will now be charged. Moreover, there will be luggage charge of Rs 5.

But the meters are yet to get calibrated as per the new slab of fare. As a result, the meters are showing fare as per the previous rate slab and drivers are asking for the excess amount as per the revised fare.

It is leading to confusion for commuters and in many cases, taxi drivers are getting involved in altercations with passengers, as they are asking them to pay the excess amount.

A senior official of the state Transport department said: "There are around 25,000 taxis that operate in and around the city. There was discussion on calibration of meters of all the taxis. It has been targeted to complete the work in a time period of around 1 month."

Senior officials of the state Transport department held detailed discussion with representatives of the companies that will be calibrating meters of the taxis, to ensure that the task gets completed as early as possible.

The official said: "It will bring an end to all problems. Neither commuters nor drivers will get harassed. At the same time, passengers will have to pay the amount that will show on the meter."