Jammu: After imposing a ban on bike and cab service provider Rapido in Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities have now made it mandatory for e-auto and e-rickshaw drivers running on the roads to install meters on the lines of black autos.
The Motor Transport Department has given all e-rickshaws and e-autos operating in the Jammu region 15 days to install meters. After 15 days, the department will set up checkpoints in the city and surrounding areas to inspect e-autos and e-rickshaws. Departmental action will be taken against vehicles that do not have meters.
A meeting was held on Tuesday between Jammu RTO Jasmeet Singh and auto union representatives at the Jammu RTO office in Transport Nagar, Narwal. Shanti Swarup Gupta, president of the All Jammu Province Auto Union, stated that the RTO has made it mandatory to install meters in e-autos and e-rickshaws, similar to those installed in black autos, starting today. The department has given 15 days for installing meters.
Couple of days back the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir, have imposed a ban on bike and cab service provider Rapido due to company functioning without the required permissions.
Consequently, auto-rickshaw passengers will now pay their fares according to the fare displayed on the meter. The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Jammu, Jasmeet Singh said that there have been frequent complaints of e-auto and e-rickshaw drivers charging arbitrary fares despite fares being set by the kilometer. Keeping this in mind, starting today, it has been made mandatory for all e-auto and e-rickshaw drivers to install meters.
Motor Vehicle Inspectors from the department also visited various auto stands in the city and informed all drivers about the need to install meters in all types of autos and rickshaws within 15 days. The fare for black autos has been fixed at Rs 46 for the first two kilometers, based on the meter. After that, a fare of Rs 20 will be charged per kilometer. Similarly, the fare for e-autos has been fixed at Rs 25 for the first kilometer and Rs 20 for each subsequent kilometer. The fare for e-rickshaws has been fixed at Rs 15 for the first kilometer and Rs 15 for each subsequent kilometer.
