Share autos to cost Rs 1-3 more from today

MUMBAI: Fares for share autos in the city will go up from today by a minimum of Re 1.

The revised rates for autos will first be implemented in the western suburbs from Wednesday as the tariff list has been distributed to 150 stands there. The list will be distributed in the eastern suburbs in the next few days and the revised fares will be implemented there accordingly.

The minimum share auto fare has been raised from Rs 7 to Rs 8 and it will go up by Rs 2-3 for a distance up to 5 km.

The minimum share taxi fare will also be raised to Rs 7 from Rs 6. But taxi unions are awaiting the final directives from the transport department before going ahead with the hike. "We have not received any instruction so far to raise share taxi fares," said union leader A L Quadros.

Several lower middle-class families from slums travel by share autos as they are "easily available and affordable". But the hike—even a rise by Re 1—will pinch these commuters in the pocket. Many share autos ply in hilly areas, where buses cannot go due to narrow roads. For drivers, it is a win-win situation as they can earn 33% more than the normal fare per trip on share routes. The quantum of hike will be higher for long distance routes; at many places like Goregaon, Malad and Andheri, there is a demand for share autos for long distances as it saves commuters over Rs 100 per trip.

RTO officials warned that at a few stands, auto drivers had been charging inflated share fares without the new chart. A stand in the Mumbai metropolitan region has increased the rates from Rs 20 to Rs 25, which is a 25% rise. But the hike, according to RTO calculations, should not be more than Rs 3. "These are illegal fares and commuters should lodge a complaint at the local RTO. One must insist on RTO-approved fares at the stand. Ideally, a board of revised rates, as drafted by the RTO, should be put up at stands," an official said.

Admitting there have been complaints of fleecing on some routes, auto union leader Thampy Kurien said work was on to instal boards with the new rates in the western suburbs.

The RTO is also keen on introducing six-seater taxis in the island city and near commercial hubs so that the share fare drops. The proposed minimum revised share fare will be Rs 7 for a four-seater taxi, but for a six-seater, it will be Rs 6.

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Share autos to cost Rs 1-3 more from today

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