Auto-rickshaws remain a popular mode of transportation for people across India, from major cities like New Delhi and Mumbai to smaller towns such as Surat and Kanpur. Many commuters encounter the problem of high fares charged by auto-rickshaw drivers. To address this issue, the Mumbai Traffic Police has released a video that offers a simple guide to help passengers identify whether an auto-rickshaw meter is faulty. They captioned the video, "Wondering why your auto-rickshaw fare seems to be rising at lightning speed? No rocket science—here’s a straightforward guide to help you check if the auto-rickshaw meter is malfunctioning. Stay alert, identify, and report faulty meters."

In the video, a police officer highlights a key sign of a tampered meter: an extra blinking point after the last digit. He explains that if this light remains visible or continues to blink after the meter button is switched off, it indicates that the meter has been tampered with and may be overcharging passengers.

In response to a tweet from a user, the Mumbai Traffic Police provided information on how to report such cases. They advised citizens to reach out to the following RTO office complaint helplines: RTO Mumbai Central: 9076201010 or mh01taxicomplaint@gmail.com, and RTO Mumbai West: 9920240202 or mh02.autotaxicomplaint@gmail.com.

The video was shared by the MTP on October 23, 2024, and has garnered over 400,000 views, along with more than 1,500 retweets and around 4,000 likes. In reaction to the video, one user suggested, "Eliminate the meter system and implement a mobile app. Let drivers click 'Ok' to start the journey and stop it to end. Most of them use their phones for Ola or Uber, which would eliminate any manipulation."