Calcutta: Taxi drivers continued to follow the old fares and charge a premium over that even after the introduction of revised fares on Monday.

Most drivers of yellow cabs said they were yet to get the new chart and in the dark about when they were to start charging the new fares. Many charged a fixed rate, while a few were demanding Rs 30 or Rs 40 more than the actual fare.

Of the 10 drivers Metro spoke to during the day, only one said he had got the new chart.

"Rs 250 for Kasba," a driver demanded on Monday evening. The fare under the old rate - he was yet to charge the new fares - was about Rs 115.

Post-revision, the lowest fare, for the first two kilometres, is Rs 30. Thereafter, the fare increases by Rs 3 for every additional 200 metres.

For 3km, for instance, a passenger has to pay Rs 45 according to the new chart. The earlier fare was Rs 37.

The new waiting charge is Rs 2 for every two minutes and 12 seconds.

The fares of air-conditioned metered taxis are 25 per cent more than the revised fares of non-AC taxis.

Amar Kumar, who drives a yellow taxi, had no clue about the new rates. "I am telling passengers that fares have gone up and are asking them to give more than the meter reading," said Kumar.

Sheikh Abdul said he wasn't aware whether he had to change the meter. "I don't know whether the government will ask us to install new meters or give us a chart that will have the new fares written against meter readings," said Abdul.

Confusion reigned through the day. Many passengers were seen asking drivers whether they were charging the old or new fares.

Public vehicles department officials said charts were a temporary measure and all meters would be re-calibrated.

A valid fare chart will have the signature of the secretary of the regional transport authority of the public vehicles department.

A PVD official said it would take three more days for copies of the new fare chart to reach the drivers. "Drivers have to collect the chart from the respective regional transport offices," the official said.

Bengal Taxi Association president Bimal Guha they were distributing photocopies of the chart to drivers.