Travel operators seek clearer rules on Karnataka’s taxi fare-meter order

Nearly three lakh taxis and cabs in Bengaluru could be affected by Karnataka’s new mandatory fare-meter rule, while travel operators seek clearer category-wise instructions before it is enforced.

The Transport Department’s August 28 circular directs new and existing taxi and motor-cab vehicles to install meters set to government-notified fares. RTOs have been told not to renew the fitness certificates of vehicles that do not comply.

The Karnataka State Travel Operators’ Association has asked the department to keep the circular in abeyance temporarily. Its president, Radhakrishna Holla, said a single requirement has created confusion because street-hailing taxis, airport and railway-station cabs, app-based vehicles, and advance-booked corporate, luxury and tourist services operate under different permits and fare structures.

For cars priced up to ₹10 lakh, the notified rate is ₹100 for the first four km and ₹24 for each additional km. Higher-priced categories have separate base and per-km rates. Waiting is priced at ₹1 a minute, and trips between midnight and 6 a.m. carry a 10% extra charge. GST, tolls and other authorised charges may also be collected by aggregators.