Following complaints of increase in autorickshaw fare by drivers affiliated to a trade union, Collector K. Rajamani on Thursday warned that legal action would be taken against those charging fare more than those prescribed by the government.
As per Government Order 772, he said that the minimum fare for the first 1.8 km would be ₹25 and ₹12 for every additional kilometre.
The autorickshaws can collect ₹3.50 towards waiting charge for every five minutes. The fare between 11 pm and 5 am will be 50% higher than the daytime.
However, Mr. Rajamani said that he had received complaints that a section of autorickshaws had revised fares on their own without following the fares fixed by the government. It was against the law. The passengers could lodge complaints with the Regional Transport Authorities or other concerned officers if they were forced to pay more than the prescribed fares. Suitable action would be taken against those violating the Government Order.
A senior officer privy to the development told The Hindu that a section of autorickshaws affiliated to a trade union had recalibrated meters with suo moto fixed fares.
They had fixed a minimum fare of ₹30 for the first 1.8 km, ₹5 more than the Government fare. They were collecting ₹15 for every additional kilo meter. It was ₹3 more than the actual fare.
While welcoming the decision of collecting meter fare, the official said they should stick to Government fares. They should not resort to any arbitrary step in fixing fares on their own.
The issue would be viewed seriously. Autorickshaws would be impounded if they found violating the rules and regulations.
In the wake of rising patronage to autorickshaws running under the Ola network, which offers cheaper rides at fixed fares, a section of autorickshaw drivers affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trader Union (CITU) had announced that they would start collecting meter fares from August 15 in Tiruchi.