The minimum fare for auto-rickshaws in the city has been hiked from Rs.16 to Rs.20, and the fare for every subsequent kilometre from Rs.9 to Rs.11. The waiting charge has also been raised to 50 paisa per minute. Government orders effecting the changes were issued on Friday.
The provision to charge one-and-half times the normal fare between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. will continue. Auto drivers under the umbrella of Auto Driver Unions JAC had been demanding fare revision and had even conducted a three-day indefinite strike from January 17. There has also been a demand for the abolition of the GO 108, which enables traffic and RTA authorities to levy a penalty of Rs.1000 for each violation of road safety rules.
Auto-rickshaw meters should now exhibit a fare of Rs.20 the moment it is engaged. From 1.6 kms onward, the fare rises by Rs.1.10 for every 100 metres.
3-month deadline
The digital meters should be recalibrated within three months. Till then, they would have to carry and exhibit approved tariff cards indicating the existing and revised fares.
Auto fares were last revised in August 2012 from Rs.14 to Rs.16 and from Rs.8 to Rs.9 for every subsequent kilometre travelled. While Auto Driver Unions JAC member A.Sathi Reddy hailed the move, he also urged cancellation of GO 108.
The move to revise fares has, however, not gone down well with commuters.
“Auto drivers anyway do not operate the fare meters and demand exorbitant fares from us,” complains A. Suma, a regular traveller.