Despite repeated promises by traffic police and Regional Transport Office (RTO), enforcement of mandatory meter usage by autorickshaws remains virtually non-existent in city.

Official data extracted from the traffic violation comparison chart from 2022 to 2025 lays bare the shocking failure - just 5 cases of auto drivers plying without the meter down were recorded in 2022, 33 in 2023, 19 in 2024, and only one such case was registered so far in 2025 (up to April 30).

This dismal record, with a mere 59 cases over recent years, is in sharp contrast to the ground reality where commuters routinely complain of being overcharged - especially during peak hours, late nights, and in areas lacking public transport. The refusal of auto drivers to ply by meter has become an accepted norm, with law enforcement turning a blind eye.

Despite clear provisions under Section 21(12) of the Motor Vehicles Act, which mandates that fare meters must be functional and used during every ride, neither the traffic department nor the RTO has launched any sustained crackdown. Instead, sporadic drives and symbolic actions have done little to deter errant drivers.

'The failure to enforce meter usage reflects poorly on civic discipline and hurts commuters financially every single day,' said a senior transport expert. 'Without meter-based fares, there is no accountability, and passengers - especially women, students, and the elderly - are left vulnerable to arbitrary pricing.'

Ironically, while Nagpur boasts of being India's first city with an operational electric autorickshaw service and a Metro rail network, it still struggles with basic fare regulation. Citizens point out that several autorickshaws have tampered meters or deliberately keep them switched off, knowing well that the risk of being penalised is negligible.

With over 5,77,000 total traffic offence cases already booked in 2025 (till April), the glaring omission in enforcement against autorickshaw meter violations stands out starkly. Unless the RTO and traffic police jointly conduct rigorous checks, penalise violators, and mandate the public display of fare charts, commuters will continue to suffer at the hands of an unchecked autorickshaw cartel.