Taxis remain meter-less

Orders await implementation despite a passage of four months.

RAWALPINDI: The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) could not implement the plan of installing meters in taxis operating in the city despite an announcement by Secretary Punjab Transport Authority (PTA) in July.

Secretary Transport Punjab had issued a notification to install meters in all cabs from July 1 this year. In compliance of the directives, the RTA Rawalpindi had also asked taxi drivers to ensure installation of these meters, which were aimed at fixing the fare according to mileage of the vehicle. The city authority had also fixed the fare for air-conditioned taxis at Rs9 per kilometre, while Rs7 per kilometre was for vehicles without air conditioner.

Presently, there is no proper mechanism to fix the fares of the taxis. This results in the drivers charging as much as they can from the passengers.

Secretary Regional Transport Authority Syed Asad Raza Kazmi toldtThe Express Tribune that the Punjab government had taken back the notification because of non-availability of meters in the country. However, he said that it was not the responsibility of the government to provide the meters to the drivers.

He added that the government had not provided these meters to the taxi owners even in the past. Under the ‘Yellow Cab Scheme’ which was launched in 1994, the taxi cars purchased by the government had these meters installed in them.

When contacted President of Taxi Driver Association (TDA) Muhammad Tariq said that cab drivers agreed to install meters but these were not available in the market. However, he put the responsibility on the shoulder of the transport authority.

“The cost of each meters start from Rs7000 to 8000, which is not affordable for most of the drivers, as majority of them are poor and have purchased their cars on lease,” he said.

Tariq also opposed the per meter rate fixed by the government, saying that Rs7 per kilometres was the rate in 1992 when this scheme was launched for the first time, which was “extremely unfair to the drivers.” He said inflation and subsequent increase in fuel rate over the years had resulted in a multiplied increase in the cost of living. “The rate should at least be fixed at Rs20 to 25 per km.”

President of TDA Muhammad Tariq said that there were over 33,000 registered and 11,000 unregistered taxis in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2010.