Now, auto drivers are tampering Electronic Meter

The government shifted from mechanical meters to electronic meters in auto rickshaws and taxis to prevent tampering and overcharging of passengers. But now it has come to light that auto drivers have fitted a button that speeds up the e-meter and displays excess fare.

Sachin Khetale, his friends Shivaji Khairnar and others brought this to the attention of the traffic police and RTO authorities on February 12. Khetale was travelling from Thane to Jogeshwari in an auto rickshaw. He realised that the e-meter was jumping exponentially and it showed over Rs 100 at Kanjurmarg, which normally should show around Rs 80. So he decided to video record it and also informed his friends about it.

After the auto reached Jogeshwari, the group took the rickshaw to Meghwadi police station. There they saw a red-coloured button camouflaged by the rickshaw’s handle, and it was connected to the e-meter with a long wire. 
The driver confessed that there were several rickshaws in the Bhandup-Mulund area which run with tamepered e-meters.

The police then informed the Wadala RTO where this rickshaw was registered. The Wadala RTO said that they have suspended the licence of the rickshaw and that necessary action would be taken. They also found that the driver’s licence was confiscated by the Navi Mumbai police a year ago and he had just been carrying a photocopy. Other documents too were not in place.