Consumer activists and transport experts on Wednesday blasted the Maharashtra transport department for allowing an auto-rickshaw union to certify recalibrated e-meters fitted in taxis and auto-rickshaws plying in the Mumbai region. The decision was taken at a meeting on November 1, the minutes of which were made public. After the change of fares since October 2022, the meters need to be recalibrated and upgraded meters need to be certified in a process called bench test.  

Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union had applied to conduct these bench tests of electronic fare meters in taxis and auto-rickshaws, and got permission. Another party, a meter manufacturer, had applied, too. “This is clearly conflict of interest. This is very dangerous and now the only option left to stop this blunder is to approach the high court for relief,” said Jitendra Gupta of Citizen Transport Committee.