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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Auto, taxi fares raised by 25%

Auto, taxi fares raised by 25%

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published Published on May 2, 2013   modified Modified on May 2, 2013
-The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Giving in to pressure from the autorickshaw lobby, the Delhi government on Wednesday decided to raise auto and taxi fares by a significant 25%.

The government defended the hike citing inflation and costlier CNG but remained silent on a deadline for installing GPS in 55,000-odd older autorickshaws, a move that could prevent unsuspecting passengers from being taken for a ride.

The auto fare hike is substantial. From Rs 19, the base fare will go up to Rs 25 for the first two kilometres. Every subsequent kilometre will now cost Rs 8, instead of Rs 6.50. Interestingly, the taxi meter-down fare is the same as that of autos, an increase of Rs 5 from the current fare. Every subsequent kilometre will be charged at Rs 14 for non-AC taxis and Rs 16 for AC taxis, against the current Rs 11 and Rs 14 respectively. The revised fares are likely to come into effect next week.

Fare hike to come into effect from next week

The waiting charges remain the same for taxis and autorickshaws. The notification on the fare revision is expected to be out on Thursday and it will come into effect sometime next week.

"After in-depth consideration of the recommendations of the committee (on review of fare hike), it was decided to allow 25% hike in auto and taxi fare," said transport minister Ramakant Goswami. The transport department had set up a committee headed by the additional commissioner (transport) which went into various aspects including the rising cost of fuel, maintenance etc. before recommending a fare hike. "The committee recommended a reasonable hike in the rates. It has also taken into consideration the prevailing rates in other metro cities," the minister said.

That the government fears commuters' ire over the new fares was evident as Goswami went on to cite the example of Mumbai, Kolkata, Amhedabad and Hyderabad to justify the raise. "Even the new rates in Delhi will remain on the lower side compared to other metros," Goswami claimed. "The rate per kilometre for autos in Mumbai is Rs 9.90, Bengaluru Rs 11.00, Hyderabad Rs 9.00, Kolkata Rs 12.00 and in Ahmedabad, Rs 8.5."

The last fare revision was in 2010. Transport department officials said the increase in CNG prices was one of the reasons for the fare revision. "CNG cost has gone up by 40% between 2010 and 2013," said an official. Pressure from the autorickshaw lobby was also a reason, the minister admitted, adding that the government had not given in to a 50-100% hike that it demanded.

TIMES VIEW

Such a sharp hike in autorickshaw and taxi fares is bad news even in the best circumstances, but it is made worse by the fact that they are a law unto themselves. Despite several tall claims, the government has been unable to discipline them. The least it can do is to ensure that they go by the metre, install GPS and take commuters where they want to go. Else, it is forcing Delhiites to pay a high price for bad service.


The Times of India, 2 May, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Auto-taxi-fares-raised-by-25/articleshow/19827592.cms


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