Trishaw fare meters not fair by commuters

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

For a majority of the city dwellers three wheelers have become a popular mode of transport in their day-to-day activities and the three wheelers fixed with fare meters came handy not only for their purses but also to relieve them from unwanted arguments with three wheeler drivers over the fares.

But it has turned out to be a short lived happiness for many commuters who opt to board a three-wheeler fixed with a fare meter.

When residents outside the Colombo city regret over the non availability of fare metered three wheelers in their home towns, residents in the main cities are baffled by the fare metered taxis as there is no uniqueness in the system. Although almost all the three wheeler operators are charging Rs. 50 for the first kilometre nobody is aware how much they charge from the second kilometre onwards.

A major complaint of daily commuters of three-wheelers is that they are not aware of the fare for additional kilometres after the first kilometre.

Only those smart enough to question the three wheel operator about the fee they charge will be aware of the rate, at the end of the journey. The people who are not aware of the real arithmetic behind this digital metre end up paying an undue amount as the fee for their journey.

"Some three-wheeler operators simply say that they charge more than Rs. 40 per additional kilometre when we inquire about the fare as the journey proceeds", Vincent Perera from Pelawatta, Battaramulla, a frequent user of three -wheelers for his daily activities told the Sunday Observer .

This situation compels the commuters to appeal to the authorities to introduce a price formula for three-wheelers and taxis to save consumers from being exploited by some operators taking cover under fare meters.

When the Sunday Observer interviewed some companies engaged in the industry of fixing fare meters, they expressed the view that a proper mechanism is required for the fare meters, one that would allow them to stick to a single price formula.

Responding to our previous article on the fixing of fare meters, Chandra Edirisinghe who acted as the competent authority of Self Employment Projects PVT Ltd., established by the then Industrial Minister Cyril Mathew to popularise three wheelers among the public and introduce technology related to three wheelers in Sri Lanka, said, there was a proper mechanism at that time to monitor the three wheel operators.

He said all three wheelers introduced to the country then, by David Pieris were operated under the supervision of the Self Employment Projects PVT Ltd which was directly under the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, the trade union arm of the then government. The Police was also involved in the process to provide protection for the three-wheel operators.

"At that time a three wheeler was priced at Rs. 28,500 and given on the payment of Rs. 50 per day without any initial payment to encourage self-employment project for the first time in Sri Lanka ", he added.

"After 3 years three wheelers increased up to 2,200, fixing Rs. 3 per mile and painted with driver details and serial number for checking any incident. We allocated space from the Fort Railway Station up to other junctions in the main cities for three wheelers. We gave tyres and welfare facilities with covering insurance at that time", he added.

"At that time there was no possibility for charging undue fares from passengers as there was a price formula for the hires", he added.

However, with the rapid expansion of the three-wheelers countrywide it was not possible to monitor all the three wheelers plying the roads as they were not properly established as a big organization.

"Now there is no proper Association for three wheeler operators as no details of original or third party drivers are available. It has enabled many three wheel drivers to be involved in delivering prostitutes, and acting as coordinators to small guest houses, house burglaries and other criminal matters", he added.

"At this moment we need to have a proper regulatory mechanism for the three-wheel operators and fare meters and such mechanism will solve the present issues relating to fare meters", he added.

The news that the Motor Traffic Commissioner has decided to make fare meters compulsory for three-wheelers engaged in public transportation comes as good news for many people.

Commenting on the situation Commissioner General of Motor Traffic S.H. Harischandra told the Sunday Observer that though there was such a proposal it has not yet been implemented.

"The Motor Traffic Department can make the fare meters compulsory but it has no mechanism to monitor the three-wheel operators as it requires a big organisation, considering the number of three-wheel operators countrywide", he added.

He said at present more than 680,000 three-wheelers have been registered with the Department and more than 400,000 are engaged in passenger transportation.

"My personal opinion is that it is better to allow the three wheel operators to fix the fare meters voluntarily rather than making it compulsory under law as many three-wheeler operators have opted to fix fare meters. However, I agree with the public opinion that there should be a proper price formula for these fare meters considering the problems they face in their day-to-day lives. It has to be implemented with the involvement of all relevant authorities", he added.

The All Island Three Wheeler Drivers Union Secretary, T.T.R. Palli, in a statement issued to the media also requested the Motor Traffic Commissioner to introduce the necessary laws to regulate the three wheel industry after the media reports published recently indicated that Motor Traffic Commissioner has decided to introduce laws soon to make it compulsory to have fare meters for three wheelers.

He said they were aware that the Department has drafted the necessary amendment to the Motor Traffic Act to regulate the three wheel industry since 1992 and they also contributed to make it a success.

"But it is regretted that this piece of draft legislation has been buried under dust for quite a long time and we implore the authorities to implement it soon for the betterment of the three wheel industry and also the general public", he added.

Therefore, it is apparent that though the issue relating to the three-wheel fare meters is becoming a more and more serious issue for the public and also for the three wheel operators honestly engaged in their jobs, lack of interest from the authorities has put the entire industry and the passengers who depend on it for their daily commuting in a dilemma. Their fervent appeal to the Public Transport Minister, or the Road Passenger Transport Authorities of the Provincial Councils is to consider the issue on a priority basis.