While the new electronic tariff meters or e-meters were designed to deter cabbies from fleecing passengers, the lackadaisical attitude of the state government in enforcing the recalibration of these units has allowed taxi drivers to continue overcharging people.

The state government had set May 31 as the deadline for taxi drivers and owners to recalibrate e-meters as per the new tariff. Up till then, around 20,000 of the black and yellow taxis fitted with e-meters had been running on the old tariff of minimum fare of Rs 16. Over a month-and-half later, neither the state government nor the black and yellow taxi unions seem keen on taking to trouble to make the necessary changes.