Despite the deadline meant for taxis and auto rickshaws in the city to calibrate their meters having expired on Sunday, not much has changed on the streets as drivers continue to pull numbers out of thin air when quoting the fare. But now the regional transport offices (RTOs) across the city have decided to put brakes on these errant men behind the wheels, by levying fines on the spot. Thus, sources say, nearly 9,000 black-and-yellow taxis are contemplating going off the roads temporarily, fearing stringent action.

As a practice, many cabbies continue to spell out the tariff at the end of a journey, irrespective of whether they have e-meters or mechanical ones. Some even refuse to furnish a rate card when asked to do so.