Calcutta, Aug. 3 : Taxi owners and drivers in the city are compelled to contravene rules and ply their vehicles with the seals on their meters either broken or tampered with. This came to light when taxi associations voiced concern over the terms and conditions mentioned in the circular on revised taxi fares issued by the Regional Transport Authority on Friday. In addition to mentioning the new rates and providing the fare chart, the circular (memo no. RTA/2677) directs permit-holders of all metered taxis to recalibrate their meters 'within three months from the date of issue of the notification'. Representatives of three taxi associations as well as the recognised agencies that calibrate taxi meters said it would be impossible for all the 22,000 taxis in Calcutta to recalibrate their meters within this period. Regional RTA secretary S. Samaddar, however, said the 14-odd agencies that do the job would be able to complete the adjustment 'with 15 days to spare'. Bengal Taxi Association officials said drivers were compelled to break the seals due to lengthy procedures and corruption at the public vehicles department (PVD). A taxi has to sit idle for 'at least two days' whenever something had to be done at the Beltala office of the department, they alleged. For example, when the wire connecting the meter with the gearbox snaps (which can happen two to three times a year, especially after plying through waterlogged streets), the vehicle has to go through several steps before it can legally ply again. 'A faulty meter report has to be filed at the PVD. The seal is then broken by the motor vehicles inspector and a letter assigning the shop where the repairs are to be carried out is issued,' said BTA treasurer Dilip Chatterjee. 'After the wire is replaced, the taxi has to be taken back to the PVD where an inspection is carried out. If satisfied, the inspectors then reseal the meter. The procedure takes more than a day, resulting in a loss of about Rs 1,000. Few owners can afford this,' he added. 'A broken seal, if found by a roaming inspector, invites a fine of Rs 500,' said T.N. Barik, assistant secretary of Calcutta Taxi Association. Another problem is getting the certificate of fitness. Commercial vehicles need to renew the certificate annually. 'For this, six inspectors at the PVD have to check at least 100 taxis a day. Only 60 are now being checked,' Chatterjee said. A PVD official admitted that the number of inspectors was inadequate. Shop heist: Miscreants raided a jewellery-manufacturing unit in Ballygunge late on Friday and escaped with gold ornaments worth Rs 10,000.