Rickshaw, Taxi Meter Recalibration Deadline Set For Nov 30; Penalty Likely From Dec 1

Mumbai's autorickshaw and taxi drivers have been given November 30 to recalibrate their meters to align with revised fares that will take effect from September 1. Failure to do so could result in penalties from December 1, potentially including a daily fine of up to Rs 5,000. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority has directed all autorickshaw and black-and-yellow taxi operators to update their meters according to the new fare structure.

While the minimum fare for meter taxis will increase from Rs 31 to Rs 33 and the minimum autorickshaw fare will rise from Rs 26 to Rs 27, the recalibration process could be challenging due to the limited number of centers available for testing and recalibration. Currently, there are approximately 4.17 lakh registered autorickshaws and 44,825 black-and-yellow meter taxis in the MMR, with only around 15 to 20 centers available for the recalibration process.

This shortage of testing centers could cause delays for drivers seeking appointments at authorized centers within the three-month deadline. The recalibration involves removing the old seal on the meter, installing an updated chip with the revised fare structure, and then passing a 1.5-km road test under the supervision of RTO officials to ensure compliance with the new fare standards.