Some taxi drivers had been in queue for as long as three days. "It´s killing us," said a taxi driver. "Most of us have huge loans and a family to feed. Having to waste so much time in getting our meters tested is robbing us of our earnings." [break]
It is an everyday affair at NBSM, where taxi drivers found tampering with meters are sent by the traffic police.
Besides, whenever the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) fixes new fares, all taxi drivers must line up at the bureau for rearranging their meters. Taxi drivers complain that they have to face unnecessary hurdles to get their meters tested.
All this is happening because the NBSM has only one standard rolling machine, which is used to check whether a taxi meter is functioning in tune with the rate fixed by DoTM. The same machine also updates billing meters of taxis as per new rates set by the government.
According to the Taxi-Tempo Unit (TTU) of the NMSB, the standard rolling machine has been checking more than 100 billing meters of taxis everyday, which is far beyond its capacity. The rolling machine has a capacity of checking only 40 billing meters a day.
“We are trying to provide maximum service from this single standard rolling machine,” said Bikash Dhonju, Chief of the TTU. “I am afraid this rolling machine will be damaged if we continue to put so much pressure on it."
According to Dhonju, there are two ways for taxi drivers to get their billing meters tested. One, taxi drivers receive a chit in which the TTU gives them time and date for their taxis´ meter-testing. Second, they can directly stand in queue to get the test done. “As they have to queue up for days, they are deprived of their earnings," says Dhonju.
But the presence of taxis at NBSM premises in huge numbers has also led to traffic mismanagement in Balaju area. After the NBSM premises get overcrowded, some drivers leave their taxis on the roads, giving traffic police a tough time.
Despite all the mess, the government is unlikely to bring in another standard rolling machine any time soon.
According to Ram Adhar Sah, Director General of the NBSM, they have budget but lack of space is barring them from setting up a new rolling machine. “We did not get budget last year," said Sah. "This year we have budget but we are facing problems in finding a space."
According to Sah, the NBSM has requested Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) for providing some space for setting up another standard rolling machine. “We need to have five to seven ropanis of land for another standard rolling machine, which we do not have,” says Sah. “The traffic police have given positive response of our request. Hopefully they will provide us with sufficient space so that we can start another standard rolling machine in the Kathmandu valley.”
While the taxi drivers are dealing with the problem of insufficient standard rolling machine in the TTU, load-shedding has become another big challenge for them. The one and only standard rolling machine which is run by electricity, could not provide service in the time of load-shedding. The worst part is there is no generator to run the standard rolling machine.
“We had brought generators in order to run the standard rolling machine but it got damaged,” says Sah. “We are planning for the generators so that we can provide service during load-shedding.”
Today there are 7000 taxis which have been registered at Department of Transport and Management (DoTM). These taxis have to visit twice in a year at the NBSM for updating and checking.
Vox pop
They must have a generator
I have been waiting for nearly 24 hours but I think I still have to wait for more hours. It is my bad luck that when I was close to getting my meter tested, there was no electricity.
This taxi is the only source of income for my family. But from yesterday, I have not earned a single penny, which directly harms my whole monthly budget. I have to come here at least twice a year for updating and checking of my billing meter. Else, traffic police will not let me drive taxi in Kathmandu. So, I will lose my two days´ earnings every year for sure.
I thought I would earn some money from this taxi for better life of my family; but these hassles have disappointed me. Poor people like us have to suffer always. If they would have generator, my billing meter could be checked a bit earlier. They should have generator facility so that we will not have to suffer more. The government has to think of us, if we are ready with their decision, they must provide us with same environment otherwise it will be harmful to us.
Guna Raj Uprety, 32
Dhapasi Height
How will I pay loan?
From the early morning I am waiting for the test and update of my billing meter. In this way, when will I pay the remaining installment of my taxi?
Along with the installment, I have to feed my family also. It has been four years that I am driving taxi in this capital city. From the early morning I have to ride taxi for the survival of my family otherwise it´s very difficult to manage money in this expensive place but today I spent whole day in this office. My one day earning has gone in waiting. And I still don´t know how long I have to wait. All the official of this office (Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology) are corrupt. From the traffic police to these governmental officials, they always target people like us.
Bikash Rai, 25
Mulpani
They get salaries, but we do not
In many 11 years of experience of taxi driving, not once have I returned home before waiting 2 days at this office.
All taxi drivers should keep in mind, if they are coming for testing and updating billing meters that they should have enough time to wait. It takes just five minutes for checking and updating, but the problem is of waiting. The bureau must solve this problem immediately because we have to wait many hours for five minutes check and update. They do not allow us to drive taxis without checking and updating the billing meters. We cannot get monthly salary like them whereas we have to work every-day.
Dinesh KC, 41
Putalisadak
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