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Three-wheeler operators ticked off over fare meter costs
View(s):Fare meters for three-wheelers are likely to be introduced in about two months following talks with suppliers and road safety officials, but operators are not pleased with the heavy costs involved.
Mohamed Niyas
Eleven manufacturers will have talks with officials of the National Council for Road Safety on Monday. The council said fare meters will be introduced within two months.
Council chairman, Sisira Kodagoda, told the Sunday Times that existing three wheelers will have to fix a receipt printer at a cost of Rs. 2,500. Three-wheelers that do not have a fare meter will have to fix one, plus the printer, for Rs.9,000.
“We will be encouraging payment via instalments and we are also trying to provide meters for existing three-wheelers for less than Rs 9,000,’’ he said.
Three-wheeler operators are not pleased.
Mohamed Niyas, who has been in the profession for 38 years, believes that a new meter costs around Rs 13,000 and paying on an instalment basis means the cost rises to Rs.16,000.
He complained that it is a struggle to earn Rs 2,000 a day, which is less than the cost of the receipt printer. He also said there is no warranty for the fare meters.
T K Samahan from Kolonnawa, travels to Colombo for hires every morning. He has been in the hiring business for 18 years and worries about the prospects and rising costs.
“We only earn around Rs 2,000 when we have hires,’’ he said adding that when the cost of fuel and meals is deducted, he is left with little.
The president of the All Island Three-wheeler Drivers Union, Lalith Dharmasekara, is concerned over the lack of punishments for offences.
“We agree that more time is needed to introduce standard meters to almost 600,000 three-wheelers, but the problem lies in the punishment. The punishment for the offences also should be included in the gazette,’’ he said.
T. K. Samahan
He believes that to maintain a balance in regulation and law enforcement on three-wheeler offences, the government together with the police should be the main regulatory body and appoint provincial councils as sub regulators.
The chairman of the All Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ and Owners’ Association, Sudil Jayaruk, suggested a fare formula. He insists on having standardised fare meters.
Mr Jayaruk also said there should be a regulator that accepts complaints and enforces the law against offenders to which the provincial councils should also contribute.