The Delhi Transport Department has recommended commensurate increase in fares of grameen and phat-phat sewa vehicles alongside fares of autorickshaws.
The recommendation comes a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met representatives of autorickshaw unions and directed that a committee be formed to decide on revision of existing autorickshaw fares.
A Delhi government source said that the proposal is currently pending Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot’s nod. While autorickshaw fares have not been revised since 2013, fares of grameen sewa and phat-phat sewa vehicles have not been revised since 2009.
On Monday, Mr. Kejriwal had met representatives of autorickshaw unions, which have demanded a starting fare of ₹25 for the first km, instead of the present two km, and ₹10 for each subsequent km.
‘Drivers will suffer’
Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, argued that autorickshaw drivers were already facing stiff competition from app-based cab operators, and would suffer further if fares were increased.
He demanded that the Delhi government, instead, give “adequate subsidy” to autorickshaw drivers for CNG and their vehicles, rather than increase fares.
“Any hike in fare will benefit neither drivers nor public. If the government can give subsidy on water, electricity, DTC and e-rickshaws, why can it not give to autorickshaws,” Mr. Gupta said.
The BJP leader said that autorickshaw drivers deserved “a better deal”, but added: “The financial burden should be borne by the government, not the common man.”