With just a few months to go for the Assembly election in Delhi, the AAP government on Wednesday notified new autorickshaw fares effecting an 18.75% increase in existing rates.
The move will benefit owners and drivers of over 90,000 autorickshaws plying in the national capital, who had played a crucial role in the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
“Govt fulfils its key promise. Transport Department has notified revision of auto-rickshaw fares. After revision also, auto fares in Delhi to remain lower than other metro cities,” Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot tweeted.
“Autorickshaw drivers will be able to charge the revised rates after necessary recalibration of fare meters and it will take around 1.5 months,” said a senior transport department official.
Revised rates
Under the revised rates, the metre down charge will be ₹25 for the first 1.5 km, instead of existing 2 km. The per km charge has been increased from existing ₹8 to ₹9.5, which is a hike of around 18.75%.
The notification introduces waiting charge at the rate of ₹0.75 per minute if an auto is caught up at a traffic signal. Luggage charges will be ₹7.50. The notification on revised fare structure was forwarded to the State Transport Authority by the transport department.