Taxi meters compulsory from today

20 April 2018 05:14 am - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Meters with the capability of issuing a printed bill will be compulsory from today, the National Council for Road Safety (NCRF) said.

NCRF Chairman Dr Sisira Kodagoda told the Daily Mirror that all three-wheeler taxis should have meters by today.

He said they should issue printed bills to passengers indicating the distance, fare and taxi details.

He said a six-month grace period had been given for the three-wheeler owners to install the meters.

“The six-month grace period expired on April 1 and the law had to be implemented from that day. But considering the difficulties,” he said.

“After today, the law would be strictly implemented and stern legal action will be taken against the passenger transport three-wheelers without fare meters,” he said.

He said the taxi meter manufacturers had been advised to build their meters according to the standards stipulated by the Transport Ministry.

“The taxi meter manufacturers should manufacture according to SLS standards. We cannot interfere with the manufacturing process but the meters should be made according to the given specifications,” Dr Kodagoda said.

“The maximum cost for a meter should be less than Rs.10, 000 and the meters should be provided to three-wheeler drivers under several installments, if they couldn’t pay the full amount upfront,” he said.

He said the law was not to exploit three-wheeler drivers but to regulate their service, he said.

He said that the Traffic Police had been advised to fine errant taxi drivers. However, it is learnt that the Police would take no action against the drivers but will warn for a week.

Out of the total of 1,150,000 three-wheelers in the country, only 750,000 three-wheelers serve as passenger taxis. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 17

Amw Friday, 20 April 2018 06:00 AM

Nice !!

ANTON Friday, 20 April 2018 06:09 AM

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE SAFETY, NOT THE CHARGES, ISN'T THERE ANY METER TO DISPLAY THE LEVEL OF SAFETY ?

Prem Friday, 20 April 2018 11:47 AM

Never expect safety while traveling in it.

D.P.Liyanage Friday, 20 April 2018 07:01 AM

Yes there must be a regulation. Some Three Wheeler drivers charge exobitant tarrif. Even metered taxis there are malpractices, I don't know how they do this. Must be tampering the meter. There are many values for a same distance. This can't be with metered taxis. But t is there in practise.

Raza Friday, 20 April 2018 07:07 AM

Good policy. The receipt should show the number of the three wheeler not necessarily the metered amount. One can trace the three wheeler if one misses goods inside the wheeler. For this a hand bill is also suffice.Not necessarily a metered bill. Are these meters made in Sri Lanka or hard earned foreign exchange lost for meters lasting few months. Are private buses giving receipts of this type. First the authority must ensure at least hand written printed bills are given. Authority cannot be an agent or partner to drain foreign exchange. Authority is not practical. Those who travel in 3 wheelers should be in the top position in the Authority, and not people living in Air conditioned limousines.

Fernando Friday, 20 April 2018 07:09 AM

Good move... but also guess one of the politician is in the making joinly with one of local online taxi hailing company.

Refaideen Friday, 20 April 2018 07:19 AM

What ever means government in a gear to make money.bitter truth.

joshua Friday, 20 April 2018 07:22 AM

Good move....but will the Government suspend it after a few days as they have been doing most of the time?

Cobra Friday, 20 April 2018 07:25 AM

I certainly go along with the govt. on the issue of meters but a printed bill is bullshit. Who is the that dreamed this up?Private bus conductors are also obliged to hand out tickets but do they?????

JIM Friday, 20 April 2018 07:35 AM

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Ajja Friday, 20 April 2018 08:03 AM

Wait and see...they will demonstrate and finally the rules will go under the Carpet!!!!

Jan Friday, 20 April 2018 01:17 PM

This would be good if the taxi switches on the meter, as some of them use it as an ornament!

vipula Friday, 20 April 2018 01:39 PM

Just fixing a meter is not enough.There should be a fix rate.In Colombo most of the three wheeler having meters but some meters charge 100 per KM some are 60 some are 45 some are 40 some are 32.The land like no other.We feel should we really need a government?

Citizen Friday, 20 April 2018 01:50 PM

Excellent move to protect average citizen. Short distance, they refuse to break the meter and demand double the amount. Hope unlike other regulations this act would be implemented properly.

selvin Friday, 20 April 2018 08:32 PM

More garbage for mc @uc. World is going to paperless but we???????????

Ralahamy Saturday, 21 April 2018 06:03 AM

In Sri Lanka, when a new gadget is made compulsory, we feel that somebody is trying to import and market some novel items. Is this such a case? During last Parliament election one of the JO candidate provided 3 Wheel meters at a subsidized price. May be somebody else or the same person can provide free meters. 3 Wheel drivers are not a luxury lot like the private practice doctors.

Sambo Saturday, 21 April 2018 08:21 AM

Lets see how effective it will be. The public are no scared of laws implemented by so called politicians.

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Taxi meters compulsory from today

Comments - 17

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