Now, shell out Rs 14 as minimum auto fare

Now, shell out Rs 14 as minimum auto fare
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Be prepared for tiffs over a mere Re 1 coin while travelling by autorickshaw. From February 1, please keep a few Rs 2 coins before flagging down a three-wheeler. Auto fares have been hiked—Rs 14 will be the minimum as against Rs 12, and Rs 7 per km as against Rs 6.
Already exasperated by the ways of autorickshaw drivers, travellers will now have reason to hold an additional grouse against them: “change illa’’(no change). They might not return Re 1 when Rs 15 is paid for a minimum distance.
The auto fare hike will come into effect from Friday. The Road Transport Authority (RTA) on Wednesday decided on the revision, bowing to the demands of autorickshaw drivers’ unions. The RTA also took into consideration the recommendations made by a sub-committee formed to look into the fare hike issue.
“The hike has been effected taking into account rising LPG prices, auto maintenance costs, salary of auto drivers, rising prices of essential commodities and costs of running an auto at present price levels,’’ deputy commissioner, urban, M A Sadiq, also RTA chairman, told reporters.
The RTA committee has agreed upon the fare hike on the condition that auto drivers will not behave rudely, charge excess fare and refuse passengers. How this is implemented remains to be seen.
RTA has described the fare hike as being fair to passengers as well as drivers. “Some of the demands of the auto drivers are genuine —- especially LPG prices and that of essential commodities. At the same time, we felt the hike could not be exorbitant so as to be out of reach of the common man. We have considered both the drivers’ interests as well as passengers,’’ Sadiq explained.
The committee felt the demand of Rs 15 and Rs 7.50 per km as proposed by one union was high, while Rs 20 and Rs 10/km was simply out of the question. The committee effected a compromise and settled for Rs 14 and Rs 7. These fares will remain till LPG prices touch Rs 45 a litre or three years, whichever is earlier. Commuters lose out
Bangalore: After much debate over hiking minimum fare for autorickshaws, the regional transport authorities have finally yielded to the demand. The authorities maintain that it is in favour of the commuters, and at the same time, asked autorickshaw drivers to behave courteously with passengers.
One union expressed concern over the possibility of tension between drivers and passengers, in the event of drivers not having Re 1 change if the passenger paid Rs 15 as the minimum fare. On this, regional transport commissioner M A Sadiq said: “We have gone into a host of factors in deciding the fare. Just because there is shortage of change/coins or passengers or drivers don’t have change, we can’t increase the fare by one whole rupee. It is for passengers and drivers to sort it out. Fare hike is a comprehensive, technical and scientific decision.’’
Until the meters are recalibrated, auto drivers will have to exhibit the new auto fare chart that has been decided on by RTA. Passengers have to pay fares based on the chart.
RECOMMENDATIONS
RTA will send a proposal to the government to amend the Karnataka Motor Vehicle rules, so that installation of digital meters becomes mandatory. Currently, there is a choice between an electronic meter and a mechanical meter. The amendment would make the digital meters compulsory.
Strict action is being mooted against autorickshaw drivers for rude and unruly behaviour, refusal to ply and demanding excess fare. The police, transport authorities and weights and measures officials will form teams to come down heavily on erring drivers.
The fare will come into effect from Feb 1.
The fare hike will remain at Rs 14 and Rs 7 till LPG prices rise up to Rs 45 per litre, or for the next three years, whichever is earlier. The present price of LPG for auto is Rs 35.38 per litre.
Auto owners have been given time till March 31 to recalibrate their meters in accordance with the revised fare.
Reactions of auto unions We welcome the increase in fare to Rs 7 per km. But we’d like the minimum fare to be Rs 15 because the new system may create tension between a passenger and driver as the latter may not have Re 1 change if a passenger give Rs 15. There is a shortage of change/coins in the city. If we don’t return the change, we’ll be accused of making money even after a hike has been effected. If minimum fare is Rs 15, there won’t be the problem of having to fight for every rupee. But for this problem, we are happy with the fare hike. M Manjunath | ADARSHA AUTO AND TAXI DRIVERS UNION/AUTO DRIVERS UNION FEDERATION (AUDF)
We’re not happy. We’d have liked Rs 8/km and Rs 16 as minimum. We will protest at Banappa Garden till the deputy commissioner agrees to our demands. It’s unfortunate that the DC did not even consider our alternative proposal — Rs 12 for the first one-and-a-half km, Rs 16 for 2 km and Rs 8/km. K N Umesh | CITU-AUTO DRIVERS UNION
Hike in LPG price Dec 2003 — Rs 17/litre Dec 2005 — Rs 29.12/litre Dec 2006 — Rs 24.98/litre Dec 2007 — Rs 31.72/litre Jan 2008 — Rs 35.38/litre
Auto fare revision 2000 — Minimum of Rs 8.80 and Rs 4.40/km (petrol auto) 2002 — Minimum of Rs 10 and Rs 5/km (LPG autos) (LPG-Rs 17/litre) 2006 — Minimum of Rs 12 and Rs 6/km (LPG autos) (LPG-Rs 24.98/litre) 2008 Feb — Minimum Rs 14 and Rs 7/km (LPG autos) (LPG-Rs 35.38/litre)
WHY HIKE SOUGHT
In December 2006, LPG cost Rs 24.98/litre. Minimum auto fare during this period was Rs 12 and Rs 6/km In January 2008, LPG cost Rs 35.38/litre. Minimum auto fare was Rs 12 and Rs 6/km Drivers say fare has not been revised despite rise in LPG prices by Rs 11 in a year’s time.
Why digital meters are a must
Passengers can see exact distance travelled for fare charged Meter fare runs till Rs 99.99 Meter won’t have automatic one-anda-half fare after 10 pm. Now, only the actual fare will be shown and after 10 pm, the extra fare has to be calculated separately If meter is tampered with, fare will begin to fall while in use