NEW DELHI: In a major relief to auto-rickshaw drivers, the Delhi government on Wednesday announced to discontinue the practice of 'road try test' after recalibration of auto fare meters. The announcement was made by the Delhi Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Department Minister, Imran Hussain following directions from the Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal.
Hussain said that the Chief Minister had directed him to hold consultation meeting with all stake-holders to simplify the procedure for re-calibration of auto fare meters. This initiative of Kejriwal government will benefit the auto rickshaw drivers as well as the commuters, as recalibration will be done faster, which will also save cost and time.
The Delhi government had recently revised the auto fares. This has necessitated re-calibration of auto fare meters after upgradation of their software. The re-calibration of auto fare meters is about to start shortly. Hussain also noted that the Auto Rickshaw drivers were also complaining about charging of exorbitant prices by Manufacturers, Repairers and Dealers of Auto Rickshaw fare meters for up gradation of software.
The Minister announced that for providing relief and succour to Auto Rickshaw drivers, an advisory has been issued to the Manufacturers, Repairers and Dealers of Auto Rickshaw fare meters for not charging more than Rs 400 per meter plus applicable GST for undertaking software upgradation post revision of auto fares. Previously, after re-calibration and initial verification by Weights & Measures Department (now renamed Legal Metro logy) in its laboratory at Wazirpur, the Auto Rickshaw drivers had to go for the road try test at Rewla Khanpur, Najafgarh.
The Auto Rickshaw drivers were demanding that road try test at the far away location at Najafgarh was inconvenient to them and it was also causing loss of a day's earning. They were requesting for making the re-calibration process smooth and convenient and for conducting at central location.
The Department has so far been testing the Auto/Taxi Fare Meter with the help of electronic pulse generating machine in the lab situated at Taxi Meter Unit which checks the auto/taxi fare meter on the basis of pulse generated for distance travelled and calculates fare. Thereafter the meters were being tested on road through Road Try Test at Rewla Khanpur. From now on wards, the Auto Rickshaw drivers will not go for the Road Try Test at Rewla Khanpur and the verification certificate of Auto Fare Meter Testing will be issued after testing at Wazirpur Laboratory only.