Meter present, not metering

Bhubaneswar, September 21,2006 (VISAKEO): No doubt, the largest selling automobile auto rickshaw is popular on Indian road. But, the center and the State government are exploiting the common people as well as the auto owners in the name of meter. In other words, the outside company gets profit supplying meters to Orissa, but there is no question for metering in the auto. Like killing the grasshopper, providing food to the myna, in Orissa, the government is in favour of outside company exploiting the citizen both the auto owners and the common individuals.
Meter system in auto is good for everyone as per the law. But the people of Orissa are in a great illusion in the name of meter. The meters fixed in auto are not executed; rather it seems as a fashion to compete with other states. Not a single passenger gives fare according to the kilometer or mileage. The congress government had made law in 1989 by which fixing meter in auto was compulsory on the basis of the circular number 21/ 5.4.89. Unless the auto owners will be deprived of having registration. Further, the absence of meter will pay 5000 rupees of fine and for the renewal of the meter the owner has to pay 200 rupees fine per annum. Of course, the governments decision is welcome to all but that was a big cheating to Orissa people as it has been realized after 17 years. More than 32067 auto rickshaws are running having meter. 11929 and 4381 of them are in twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. At least 10 new autos are coming forward with the meter everyday. Super meter manufacturing company Pune manufactures these meters. For fixing meter, the auto owners pay 3100 rupees to the company. The company had looted more than 8 crore in the name of meter, but neither auto owners nor the passengers are getting benefit by this system. The Govt of India never provides any system of metering and supports to the company. There is no reply from the departmental office for 17 years. Reacting to the matter, the Transport secretary Priyabrata Pattanaik said everything would be done through investigation that why the meter is not executed for the transport communication.