Auto rickshaw metres running fast and causing higher fare has always been a concern for the Mumbai people. Mumbai Police shared a video on the official X handle which explained to citizens how they can identify fast running metres.
A police officer in the video demonstrated how to spot a tampered meter using the "blinking point" as an indicator. The officer explained that if the light keeps blinking or stays on even after the handle button is turned off, it’s a clear sign the meter has been tampered with.
They captioned the post saying, " Wondering how your auto-rickshaw bill is travelling faster than light? No rocket science – here’s a simple guide to help you identify whether the Auto Rickshaw meter is faulty or not. Stay aware, identify, and complain about the faulty meters."
Mumbai traffic police have taken legal action against an auto-rickshaw driver for tampering with the meter. This includes filing an FIR, canceling the driver's permit, and seizing the vehicle.
The video quickly went viral, attracting more than 275,000 views. Many social media users called for a mobile app to combat meter fraud in Mumbai. One user suggested, " Remove the meter concept and get the mobile app. Let drivers click Ok for the journey to start. Stop for closing the journey. majority of them use mobiles for either ola or Uber. No manipulations anymore."
There is gross negligence of DCP Traffic to look into various grievances related to Auto’s and traffic all over,” another user commented. “They kept saying electronic meters can’t be tampered. I always called them out. Been happening since 5+ yrs,A user said.