Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday, 16 March 2021

Thank You, Shri Dhakneji,

 

Thank You, Shri Dhakneji,

 

( Transport commissioner – Maharashtra / avinashdhakne@gmail.com / smccommissioner@yahoo.com )

 

Context :

Mumbai : Transport Department mulls GPS-based meter for quick re-calibration  /  FreePressJournal / 16 Mar 2021

 

The Maharashtra Transport department is looking at bringing GPS-based meters that can be installed in auto-rickshaws and taxis.

This is to ensure that next time e-meters are to be recalibrated; it can be done in a centralised fashion without wasting time, money, and effort.

Currently, the procedure of recalibrating these e-meters is slow-paced and tedious which is causing problems to drivers and passengers.

Sources in the Transport department said that they will examine the feasibility of such GPS-based e-meters and will also have meetings with their manufacturers.

GPS-based meters would get automatically updated like any software from a central place.

Moreover, the RTO authorities claim that they can also come to know if any e-meter can be found tampered with so that they can lock it.

"The option of GPS meters can be explored if found feasible. We will call a meeting with their manufacturers to see if it will work. If the process begins now, we could study it," said Avinash Dhakne Maharashtra Transport Commissioner.

At present, there are issues on the ground faced by drivers who claim to be paying up to Rs 1500 for the recalibration process. This is despite the Transport Department's decision to fix the rate at Rs 700. The unions claim that there has been a low response to auto and taxi meters recalibration due to the high costs involved. These e-metered chips need to be replaced every time there is a change in tariff.

The touts are charging around Rs 250-300 taking the price for recalibration. The Maharashtra government has given time till May 30 to recalibrate e-meters of nearly 2.20 lakh auto rickshaws and 40,000 taxis operating in the city. These autos and taxis will undergo test runs at 13 test tracks across Mumbai suburbs including 5 at Wadala RTO, 5 at Andheri RTO, and 3 at Borivali RTO.

===================================================

MY TAKE :

Ø  Thanks Shri Dhakneji,

For considering my suggestion in my following e-mail :

      Tablets in Taxies ? …………………………………[ 16 May 2016 ]

 

Where I suggested as follows :

 

Ø      >  Expect some Indian Start-Up to come up with a digital taxi meter ( to be

           called , DigiMet  ? ), resembling a 8" tablet , with a screen on both the sides ,

           visible to both , the driver and the passenger

  

Ø      >  DigiMet will be integrated with :

 

             GPS based Google Map

  

            *  Mobile App (called, FareCalc ? ) downloaded from the web site of the

               Authority fixing " Tariff " ( RTO ? )

 

 

Ø       >  Passengers will also need to download / install, FareCalc app on their smart

             phones

 

 

Ø       >   As requested by the passenger, taxi driver will enter the destination

              location, in DigiMet

 

 

Ø       >   Immediately, DigiMet will display the following routes to the desired

              destination :

 

            *  Shortest route ( distance-wise )

  

           *  Fastest route ( time wise ) , taking into account the traffic conditions on

               different routes

 

 

Ø       >   DigiMet will also display , the amount of " fares " payable for each route (

              also displaying tariff : Rs per Km )

 

 

Ø       >   Now it is the passenger's turn to select / choose the route that he wants

              the driver to take

 

         The taxi / rickshaw will start only thereafter !

 

 

Ø       >    At the end of the journey , passenger will have the options to pay the fare ,

 

            *  In cash

 

            *  By entering his Credit Card details into the DigiMet , or

 

            *  Through his Mobile Wallet ( using NFC  ? )

 

 

Ø       >    The Mobile App will also need to have a provision for any " Waiting Time "

                charges to be added

 

 

Ø      >    When the destination is reached, DigiMet will display :

  

            *  Distance travelled

 

             *  Time taken

 

            *  Waiting Time ( if any )

  

           *  RTO approved tariff ( Rs per Km )

 

            Fare amount payable

 

  

Ø       >    Any revision in the tariff will get updated automatically in DigiMet as also

                on the smart phone of passenger

 

 

Ø       >    For taxis / rickshaws running on Hybrid fuel ( producing less Co2 ) or

               Electric Vehicles ( zero emission ) , both, the driver and the passenger will

               get " Carbon Credits ", which will also get displayed on the DigiMet as

               also on the FareCalc Mobile App on the smart phone of the passenger ( @

               20 % of the fare payable ? ) . This could prove as an INCENTIVE for the

              TAXI-RICKSHAW owner, if “ Credits “ accumulated in one year, pays for the

              initial  Capital Investment of DigiMet ( approx.. Rs 5,000 / - ? )

 

 

Ø         >    These amounts will get transferred to their respective Jan Dhan Bank

                 Accounts ( thru DTB ) , every quarter

 

       >     I suppose some variation of DigiMet / FareCalc can be introduced in all

              State Transport buses and intra-city Municipal buses

 

 

 

Dear Shri Dhakneji,

 

Ø  I believe your initiative will be welcomed by the passengers and the Meter Manufacturers


Ø  However, expect stiff resistance from Taxi-Rickshaw Owners – who will need some incentive / motivation to replace their existing meters with DigiMet ( subsidy like planned “ Old Vehicle Scrapping Policy “ ? )


Ø  If Maharashtra manages to pull this off , it will be copied by all other States


Ø  It is, therefore ESSENTIAL that the “ Hardware ( DigiMet Tablet ) “ and the “ Software ( FareCalc mobile app platform ) “, are the SAME for all the States ( a National Public Digital Platform ). A Central Agency should draw-up these SPECIFICATIONS, which all manufacturers / RTOs must accept .


Ø  With lakhs of Auto Rickshaws / Taxies , even within Maharashtra, the switch-over may take 2 / 3 years ( partly depending upon the supply from Meter Manufacturers 

 

Ø  Auto Companies manufacturing Rickshaws, may be asked to “ factory – installDigiMet before sale. This could start from April 2022

 

With regards,

 

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  17 March 2021

===================================================

 

Related Readings :

Ø  Congratulations, Avinash Dhakneji ………………………..[ 15 Dec 2020 ]

Ø  Making Yourself Obsolete ? ……………………………………..[ 14 Feb 2016 ]

Ø  Carbon Finance through Carbon Credits…………………. [ 12 Mar 2021 ]

Ø  Internet of Vehicles ( IoV ) ? …………………………………..[ 04 Mar 2017 ]

   

 

CC:

Shri Anil Parab [ Transport Minister – Maharashtra / anildattatray@gmail.com ]

Shri Shashank Rao, [ Mumbai Autorickshaw Men's Union / shashank1510@yahoo.co.in ]

Mumbai Grahak Panchayat [ mpanchayat@gmail.com  ]

Mr. Ashok Datar, Advisor - Mumbai Parking Authority  / datar.ashok@gmail.com

Mumbai Mobility Forum  /  mumbai-mobility-forum@googlegroups.com

Mr A V Shenoy / shenoyav@gmail.com

All India Motor Transport Congress  /  aimtc@rediffmail.com  /  aimtc1936@gmail.com

 

===================================================

NUMBER OF TAXIS – 2018 ( Thousands ):

 

Tamil Nadu………….373.52

Karnataka……………245.57

Maharashtra…………237.01

Rajasthan…………….131.91

West Bengal…………127.04

Gujarat………………….115.45

Kerala……………………107.57

Uttar Pradesh…………104.93

Odisha……………………102.8

Telangana………………101.49

Bihar……………………… 91.31

Delhi…………………….. .91.07

Andhra Pradesh……..77.54

Madhya Pradesh…….58.75

Assam……………….. …56.36

Haryana……………… ..52.76

Uttarakhand…………..39.82

Jammu & Kashmir.. 39.14

Himachal Pradesh….34.71

==============================

TOTAL…………………………2188.75 ( = 22 lakh )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MANUFACTURERS OF TAXI METERS :


Ø  Goldtech……………………………………………………………… sales@goldtechscales.com

 

Ø  SANSUI ELECTRONICS (P) LTD…………………………. sales@sansui.co.in / support@sansui.co.in

 

Ø  Precision Electronics Instrument Co

 

Ø  Devishree Mudran (p) Ltd………………………………….. marketing@dolphinscales.com

 

Ø  AL-Hadeed Manufacturing & Trading Pvt

 

Ø  M/s Pulsar Technologies (i) Pvt. Ltd………………..info@pulsartechnologies.in / mrn5608@gmail.com

 

Ø  Super Meter Mfg Co…………………………….info@supermeters.com / rajeshchinta@supermeters.com

 

Ø  National Meter Mfg. Co..................... nationalmeter@gmail.com

 

Ø  JNS Instruments Ltd…………………………….contact@jpmgroup.co.in

 

Ø  Nimit Technologies……………………………..ajitkumar4003@gmail.com

 

Ø  Dialtone Systems…………………………Info@Dialtonesystems.Com /  Support@Dialtonesystems.Com

 

Ø  DigiTax…………………………………. support@digitaxindia.com

 

Ø  www.rickshawchallenge.com/about/the-auto-rickshaw  /   / info@travelscientists.com

 

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