Cabbies oppose meters, seek govt help

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 19

Taxi operators of Kullu and Manali have urged the state government to take up the issue of installation of meters in taxis with the High Court.

The court, in its orders issued last month, had directed taxi operators, especially in Shimla, to install meters in their vehicles. The step is aimed at preventing the fleecing of tourists. However, taxi operators are demanding that the condition be relaxed as it will hit their business hard. During the hearing, the state government had assured the court of taking the required measures within a week. The Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma also took an affidavit filed by the Director (transport) on record.

Taxi operators said they were already bearing the brunt of the NGT order, wherein restrictions had been imposed on the number of tourist vehicles going towards the Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul, in order to protect the ecology of the area.

Earlier, there were no such restrictions and taxi operators would have good business during the peak tourist season. At present, only 1,200 tourist vehicles are allowed to go to the Rohtang Pass.

Taxi operators said the installation of meters in their vehicles would affect the business as the rate would be charged as per the reading. “Traffic jams are a routine affair in the hill station during the peak season. Vehicles remain stuck for several hours. If the payment will be decided as per the meter reading, it will affect our business,” said a taxi operator.

Raj Kumar Dogra, president of the District Kullu Welfare Association, said they had urged the government to take up the issue with the High Court.