Taxis to mandatorily have digital fare meters, can charge only as per fares fixed by Transport dept

BENGALURU: In a move to rein in aggregator companies from charging customers exorbitantly, the Transport department has made it mandatory for taxis to have digital fare meters. It has also directed the aggregator companies to collect only fares fixed previously.

Currently, there are 70,000-80,000 taxis plying in Bengaluru. There have also been a series of complaints about arbitrary charging and in view of this, the Transport department has issued an order making digital fare meters mandatory in taxis.

Also, taxi operators are directed to collect only the fares that have been fixed. For vehicles valued at less than Rs 10 lakh, the fare is Rs 100 for 4 km adn then Rs 24 per every additional km. For vehicles priced Rs 10-15 lakh the minimum fare is Rs 115 up to 4 km and Rs 28 per km thereafter.

For vehicles priced more than Rs 15 lakhs, the fare is Rs 130 up to 4 km and then Rs 32 per every additional km. The waiting charges is free up to first five minutes and then Rs 1 per every one minute. A 10 per cent additional fare is allowed for taxis travelling from 12 midnight to 6 am.