The State government has agreed in principle to increase the fares of autorickshaws and taxis as recommended by the M. Ramachandran Committee.
Transport and Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed told a joint action council of trade unions of autorickshaw and taxi drivers about the government’s intention at a meeting convened by him in the Secretariat on Thursday.
The minimum fare of autorickshaws will go up from Rs.12 to Rs.15 and that of taxis from Rs.60 to Rs.100. For every subsequent km, the autorickshaw fare will be Rs.8, compared with the Rs.7 now, and Rs.10 (Rs.8) for taxis. Air-conditioned taxis will charge 10 per cent more. During the talks, the representatives of the council demanded that the minimum fares for autorickshaws and taxis should be charged only for one km.
The Minister said the demand would be placed before the Cabinet on November 10 for ratification. Following the announcement, the council called off its plan for an autorickshaw and taxi strike in the State from October 31. It had been demanding an increasing in the fares following the increase in the prices of fuel.
