Taxis in Shimla and Dharmshala to have metres

Shimla, June 26 (UNI) Now all taxis in Shimla and Dharamshala towns of Himachal Pradesh will now have to install meters following the HP High Court's decision to make it mandatory for them.

The metres, the government claims, would prevent the fleecing of tourists by the cab operators, who at times charge two-to-three times more than the actual fare.

However, the cab operators protesting the scheme, saying it would be uneconomical to run metered taxis in the hilly terrain.

Meanwhile, following the expiry of deadline for fixing metres on the taxis on Sunday, the Shimla and Dharamshala district administrations have begun fining cabs running without meters.

Officials say a vehicle that is fined thrice, would automatically lose its taxi license.

A senior state official said here that the scheme would be strictly implemented in both the two tourist towns, besides being extended to Manali town of Kullu district.

UNI