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Maharashtra government mulls rule change in fare refusal punishment to protect auto, taxi owners

The state transport department may change rules pertaining to punishment for autorickshaw and taxi fare refusals.

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Members of the Mumbai Rickshawmen Union stage a protest outside the regional state transport office, demanding relief for autorickshaw owners who rent out their vehicles, on Saturday
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The state transport department may change rules pertaining to punishment for autorickshaw and taxi fare refusals. The changes are being mulled over to protect the interests of the owners of the vehicles as they end up at the receiving end of punishment if the drivers refuse fares.

An autorickshaw union from the city held a rally on Saturday, wherein it demanded that autorickshaw owners, who do not drive the vehicles but give it out on rent, be better protected against the doings of errant drivers.

"If a driver, who's taken the three-wheeler on rent, refuses a fare and the citizen lodges a complaint, the autorickshaw's permit is suspended for 10 days, apart from the driver's driving licence being seized till he pays a fine," said Thampi Kurien of the Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union.

According to the union leader, despite autorickshaw owners not being at fault, they have to bear the brunt of the 10-day suspension, as part of which the vehicle's electronic meter is removed. After 10 days, the meter is returned and the owner has to take it to the agency concerned, which reinstalls it. Before the installation, the agency does its servicing, and after, the autorickshaw owner has to approach the transport officer for tests.

"The entire process consumes another three days, resulting in heavy financial loss for the owner, who is innocent and not the one to have refused fares," said Kurien.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority's meeting is likely to happen later this month, wherein the proposal of fare hike for autorickshaws and taxis as per the Hakim Committee report may also get tabled.

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