Digital meters of autos can be tampered

Bangalore: A recent study by Legal Metrology Department has revealed that the autorickshaw meters, which were digitized to control rigging, can also be tampered. "We checked meters of 2,760 autorickshaws across the city and detected 51 cases of tampering of digital meters," said Assistant Controller (Auto and Taxi Unit) Gopalappa.

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These findings come as a setback to Transport Department and the Traffic Police who had given a 'tamper-proof' certificate to digital meters two years ago, reports Suchith Kidiyoor of Bangalore Mirror. The transport department had introduced digital meters following complaints from commuters that the mechanical meters were being tampered with.

Their argument was that, unlike mechanical meters, digital meters are fitted with a software and cannot be manipulated by roadside mechanics. In due course, digital meters were made mandatory for all new autorickshaws.

Three months ago, The Legal Metrology Department, which keeps tab on weights and measures, started checking autos after many commuters started complaining about variations in fares. To solve this issue, three techies have developed a software application that can detect if an auto driver is overcharging or taking a wrong route. The application, named 'Suruk,' can be used on GPS-enabled mobile phones and helps in monitoring duration of travel, tariff and distance.