Delhi government okays auto fare hike, 1st in 6 years
Atul Mathur, Sidharatha Roy | TNN | Updated: Mar 9, 2019, 08:36 ISTThe fare of taxis, gramin sewa and RTVs will be revised in the next few days
NEW DELHI: The Delhi cabinet on Friday approved a hike of Rs 1.5 per km in auto-rickshaw fares, increasing the rate from Rs 8 to Rs 9.5. The ‘meterdown charge’ was also revised from Rs 25 for the first 2km to Rs 25 for 1.5km.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the new rates would be applicable after the auto-rickshaws get their electronic fare metres re-calibrated. The ministry would notify the revised fare structure in a few days and the re-calibration would start after that.
Auto fares in the city were last revised in May 2013.
The fare of taxis, gramin sewa and RTVs will be revised in the next few days.
Gahlot said LG Anil Baijal’s approval was not needed, claiming fare revision was not a ‘reserved subject’.
Stuck in traffic jam? You will have to pay extra for your auto ride
The Delhi cabinet has given the green light to hike the autorickshaw fares.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the ninemember committee formed by the Delhi government to make recommendations for fare revision of autorickshaws and other modes of transport looked at the existing rates in Mumbai and also considered the rising fuel and maintenance cost and inflation before finalising the new rates. The committee was headed by special commissioner (transport) Anil Banka and comprised other senior officials of the transport department, apart from representatives of different Residents Welfare Associations of Delhi and a representative from the student community.
To ensure that the autorickshaws do not refuse to go on the routes that are clogged or witness regular traffic congestion, the government has also decided to let the drivers charge an additional 75 paise for each minute that the vehicle is stuck in a jam or moves at a speed less than 6km per hour. The minister added that the autorickshaws will also be allowed to charge 75 paise per minute as waiting charges the moment it downs the metre. According to the existing fare structure, the waiting charges begin only after 15 minutes of stay. There is no change in the night tariff and luggage charges.
Gahlot said the law department has already vetted the new fare structure and the file approved by the cabinet will now be sent to the transport department for notification. Sources, however, claimed that the transport department couldn’t issue notification for fare revision without the LG’s approval.
The auto drivers' unions had been asking for a fare revision for a long time. Under pressure from the drivers, considered to be an Aam Aadmi Party vote bank, the government had agreed to revise the tariff in 2016 and again in July 2018. But the plan had to be suspended following some reservations from the auto unions.
The unions, however, are not satisfied with the auto fare hike. “We have been betrayed by the AAP government. The fare should have been hiked to Rs. 10 per kilometre, which we had demanded and which passengers are willing to give,” said Sanjay Chawla, president, Delhi Pradesh Tipahiya Chalak Mahasangh. “While long distance travellers have been taken away by app-based cabs, short distance travellers are taken by erickshaws and autorickshaw drivers are not earning enough to survive,” he said.
“The fare hike is an election gimmick. We had wanted Rs. 10 per kilometre and Rs 25 for first kilometre,” said Rajendra Soni, general secretary, Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh. “Where would we or the passenger get change of 50 paise from? The government could have given us a CNG subsidy instead and regulated app-based cabs,” he said.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the new rates would be applicable after the auto-rickshaws get their electronic fare metres re-calibrated. The ministry would notify the revised fare structure in a few days and the re-calibration would start after that.
Auto fares in the city were last revised in May 2013.
The fare of taxis, gramin sewa and RTVs will be revised in the next few days.
Gahlot said LG Anil Baijal’s approval was not needed, claiming fare revision was not a ‘reserved subject’.
Stuck in traffic jam? You will have to pay extra for your auto ride
The Delhi cabinet has given the green light to hike the autorickshaw fares.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said the ninemember committee formed by the Delhi government to make recommendations for fare revision of autorickshaws and other modes of transport looked at the existing rates in Mumbai and also considered the rising fuel and maintenance cost and inflation before finalising the new rates. The committee was headed by special commissioner (transport) Anil Banka and comprised other senior officials of the transport department, apart from representatives of different Residents Welfare Associations of Delhi and a representative from the student community.
To ensure that the autorickshaws do not refuse to go on the routes that are clogged or witness regular traffic congestion, the government has also decided to let the drivers charge an additional 75 paise for each minute that the vehicle is stuck in a jam or moves at a speed less than 6km per hour. The minister added that the autorickshaws will also be allowed to charge 75 paise per minute as waiting charges the moment it downs the metre. According to the existing fare structure, the waiting charges begin only after 15 minutes of stay. There is no change in the night tariff and luggage charges.
Gahlot said the law department has already vetted the new fare structure and the file approved by the cabinet will now be sent to the transport department for notification. Sources, however, claimed that the transport department couldn’t issue notification for fare revision without the LG’s approval.
The auto drivers' unions had been asking for a fare revision for a long time. Under pressure from the drivers, considered to be an Aam Aadmi Party vote bank, the government had agreed to revise the tariff in 2016 and again in July 2018. But the plan had to be suspended following some reservations from the auto unions.
The unions, however, are not satisfied with the auto fare hike. “We have been betrayed by the AAP government. The fare should have been hiked to Rs. 10 per kilometre, which we had demanded and which passengers are willing to give,” said Sanjay Chawla, president, Delhi Pradesh Tipahiya Chalak Mahasangh. “While long distance travellers have been taken away by app-based cabs, short distance travellers are taken by erickshaws and autorickshaw drivers are not earning enough to survive,” he said.
“The fare hike is an election gimmick. We had wanted Rs. 10 per kilometre and Rs 25 for first kilometre,” said Rajendra Soni, general secretary, Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh. “Where would we or the passenger get change of 50 paise from? The government could have given us a CNG subsidy instead and regulated app-based cabs,” he said.
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