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Meter tampering pushes up fares

Same distance, situation but charges differ, commuters allege

MIZANUR KHAN and SYED TASHFIN CHOWDHURY
A large number of taxicabs and CNG driven three-wheelers ply the city streets with either faulty or meters that are tampered with.
Commuters accuse these taxis and three-wheelers charge fares higher than the rate fixed by the authorities.
Many passengers recalled how they had been charged with different rates on numerous occasions travelling the same distance under the same traffic situations.
“I usually pay Tk 100-120 to Panthapath from Tongi Bridge in a black taxicab on Fridays. But at times I am asked to pay Tk 160,” said Arifur Rahman, a businessperson, who visits his in-laws frequently with his family on weekends.
“In most cases I quarrel with the drivers but with no luck as the amount is indicated on the meter,” he added.
To experiment these allegations, these two correspondents hired two black cabs to Gulshan 2 intersections from the same spot and time from Karwan Bazar. At the end of the round trip through the same route, the correspondents were surprisingly charged two different fares.
When asked for the reason, the two drivers had no explanation to
give except show their ignorance of the difference in meter reading.
The situation is no different with CNG driven auto-rickshaws.
“I took an auto-rickshaw from Kalabagan to Banani; but as soon as we reached near the Cantonment, the meter read Tk 50,” said a private university student not wanting to be identified.
The student said that the overall fare by CNGs from Kalabagan to Banani is usually around Tk 45-50.
“It was quite obvious that the meter was tampered with and I got off at Mohakhali,” said the commuter.
Similar complaints were received from other commuters and city-dwellers.
“The usual fare from Shantinagar to Farmgate is around Tk 35-40 but I was charged Tk 60,”said Delwar Hossain, a Shantinagar resident.
Many drivers of taxicabs and CNG auto-rickshaws told Star City they had no involvement in meter tampering but said they also heard about the crime.
“Drivers at the taxi stands acknowledge that some are involved in meter tampering. I too, hear the same allegation from passengers but I can vouch for myself,” said Motiur Rahman, who has been driving taxicabs since they hit the streets.
“Most of us are not aware of the technique. One cannot 'fix' every type of meter,” said cab driver Azad Kalam, while waiting for passengers at Dhanmondi.
A few cabbies said that some wires, which are otherwise con-
nected to the engine and the meter, if taken out and earthed, would aid in the meter engineering. They advised city-dwellers to refrain from riding cabs with wires and cables dangling out of the engine beside the steering wheel.
Navana Taxi Cab Limited, with a fleet of 602 cabs said they too have heard about the meter tampering but claimed their devices could not be meddled with.
“We import sealed meters from Japan. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) seals the meter again after verification and then we install meters in cars,” said Meer Hossain Majumder, General Manager of taxicab operation and maintenance.
“If anyone tries to meddle with it, the meter goes out of order,” he added.
Some CNG and cab drivers informed Star City about workshops and garages in Tongi, Jatrabari and Dholaikhal, which specialize in tampering meters for CNG auto-rickshaws and cabs.
“The meters can be doctored in such a way that at least 10% extra fare will be displayed along with the overall price,” said Shumon, a technician from a workshop in Jatrabari who specializes in meter tampering.
He explained that with the installation of some IC (Integrated Circuits) into the meters, it is possible to fix the fare rate on the apparatus according to the owner or the driver's will.
The tampering process takes an hour and the entire process costs around Tk 600-800 a meter, said the technician.
“The meter tampering activity has always been 'an open secret' and the concerned authorities like Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the BRTA are aware of it. But despite the knowledge, the authorities are doing absolutely nothing to stop these criminals, ”said Biplob Mallik, a resident of Pallabi.
SM Mizanur Rahman, Police Commissioner of DMP acknowl-
edged that he is aware of the crime but said he has not yet received any authentic information on meter tempering. “If we get any valid and verified complaints against such workshops, garages and owners of vehicles with tampered meters we will apprehend them,” he said.
“If a passenger of a cab or CNG auto rickshaw suspects that the meter is tampered, he can seek the help of the nearest policeman in such a case. The policeman is bound to inquire into the matter,” he added.
A senior official of BRTA assured that actions would be taken against such drivers and owners, if written complaints are received from passengers.
“The complaint should include the registration number and other necessary details of the vehicle to facilitate the apprehension of these criminals,” he said.
Currently, 35 companies operate nearly 7,000 taxicabs while around 15,000 CNG driven auto rickshaws ply in the city.
Metered taxicabs were introduced in 1998 with a view to offer commuters a comfortable, safe and standard service. Metered auto rickshaws were introduced two years later.