After fare hike, auto drivers ask for more

After fare hike, auto drivers ask for more
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The woes of autorickshaw commuters are far from over. A day after the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) announced the revision in minimum fare of autorickshaws by Rs 2 and per km fare by Re 1, various autorickshaw unions on Thursday put forth fresh demands before the RTA.



The Autorickshaw Drivers Union, affiliated to CITU staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner (Urban) and RTA Chairman M A Sadiq to further revise the fares.

“ The hike in fares from Rs 14 (minimum) and Rs 7 per km which is to come into effect from February 1 is not acceptable, as the drivers will get nothing. We have urged the RTA to further revise the fares to Rs 12 for the first one and half km, Rs 16 for 2 km and Rs 8 per km,” said, B V Ragh-avendra, General Secretary of Autorickshaw Drivers Union.

The Autorickshaw Drivers Union has also rejected the RTA’s guidelines to recaliberate the autorickshaw meters before March 31 and said protests will be held in front of the RTO’s in the City.

Meanwhile, Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Union fired a fresh salvo at the RTA demanding an increase in the revised minimum fare from Rs 14 to Rs 15.

RTA’s, proposal to the government to make installation of digital meters compulsory has also been rejected by the two unions.

Members of the Autorickshaw Drivers Union, said the digital meters will be installed if it is provided by free of cost by the Government.

While, the Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Union asked for a 50 per cent subsidy on the purchase of the digital meters.