The Coimbatore District Autorickshaw Workers All Association Joint Committee has urged the district administration to revise the tariffs while fixing the meter rates.
Association members, led by president P.K. Sukumaran, submitted a petition to the district administration during the public grievances meeting held at the Collectorate on Monday.
According to Mr. Sukumaran, the present tariff system, under which the minimum distance for plying autorickshaw was 2 km at Rs. 14 and Rs. 6 for every km from thereon was fixed more than a decade ago. He called for revising the minimum distance to 1.5 km at Rs. 30 and Rs. 15 for every km from thereon.
Orders have been issued by the Supreme Court to implement the meter system for autorickshaws in Tamil Nadu and the Madras High Court had also issued a subsequent order directing the Coimbatore district administration to fix the fares for autorickshaws, he said.
A uniform tariff system across the State would prove detrimental and tariffs must be fixed after taking into account the local conditions, which were bound to vary.
Protest planned
The trade unions were planning a State-wide protest on August 13 to press their demands, added Mr. Sukumaran.
