Can meter autos ever make a comeback?

“Anna, meter hakthira?” — this iconic phrase feels largely lost in the modern vocabulary of Bengalureans. Although physical meters remain a fixture on autos, they are rarely put to use. Most commuters now prefer the convenience of app bookings, prompting drivers to steadily abandon the traditional meter model.The last time Rishab Vinay Malde remembers taking a meter auto was before the pandemic. He would hail rickshaws to travel 3 to 4 km in and around Basaveshwaranagar, paying a fare between Rs 25 and Rs 30. “I miss that price point,” he shares.Citizens who manage to still spot autos that run by the meter call it “rare” and “refreshing”. Neha Nagpal recalls commuting between Koramangala and Richmond Circle in August. “I asked the driver if he would put the meter, and he immediately agreed. Usually, when I ask the drivers to go by the meter, they just refuse or demand a higher fare.”Another Bengalurean, who has been using meter autos for 10 years now, shares that they still hail them from Indiranagar metro station to Domlur, and believes that being a localite comes with an advantage. “Knowing Kannada helps, and when I catch an auto early in the morning, drivers usually agree to go by the meter,” they share.For Saahiba* (name changed), who tried hailing an auto for a 1.7-km commute on Monday, the asking fare of Rs 100 came as a shock. “When I asked him to put the meter, he was just dismissive,” she recalls. She approached a traffic cop nearby, but before they made their way back, the driver had left. Without the auto’s registration number, it became tough to file a complaint. “If this can happen close to a traffic post, it means that the auto drivers have been emboldened enough by police inaction,” she opines.Cost of convenienceWith the rise of aggregator apps, meters seem to be a thing of the past for both drivers and commuters. Shantha Gowda, an auto driver from Sarjapur, points out that in scenarios where people hail running rickshaws, drivers demand fares shown on these apps. He adds that apps underpay drivers during non-peak hours and overcharge customers during peak hours, creating a lose-lose situation.“Drivers who try to use the meter face harassment at auto stands where fares are monopolised and exorbitant,” he shares. He believes this is the consequence of drivers “striking deals” with police officials and local politicians.Auto drivers on Brigade Road who rely on app bookings refuse to use the meter and say they don’t feel the need for it. Similarly, drivers outside the M G Road metro station charge a minimum fare of Rs 100 and claim that this is in accordance with the prepaid booking booth. When asked about how they directly quote unregulated fares to commuters, they said they know the fares themselves, even if the rides are not routed through the booth.The revivalWhat would it take for the meter to make a comeback? Stricter rules, rebuilding trust among commuters, and structural changes to driver incentives. Niranjanaradhya N, CEO of Nagara Meter Auto and Taxi app, shares that although many drivers were initially keen to move to the meter model, complaints about rigged meters quickly cropped up. “To solve this, we have built an in-app ‘live meter’, where fare is calculated based on the distance,” he says. While aggregators take a percentage-based cut on bookings, Nagara charges a platform fee of Rs 3 per ride. Currently, the minimum mandated fare in Bengaluru stands at Rs 36 and Rs 18 per km after the first 2 km.Rudramurthy, general secretary of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union, argues that the minimum charge and charges per kilometre need to be discussed with auto drivers and revised as per the rising cost of living. “In cities like Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga, the minimum fare is Rs 40 with Rs 20 for every subsequent kilometre,” he says. He also acknowledges instances where auto drivers near Cubbon Park charge Rs 100 per person for a short ride shared between three people. “Strict imposition with a fair minimum price can make it work again,” he says.How to complainIf an auto driver refuses short-distance rides or overcharges you, call the Bengaluru Traffic Police on 080 2558 8444 or 080 2558 8555. You will need: the vehicle’s registration number, place, time, and date of incident.

Source: Deccan Herald