Nod to hike in taxi, auto fares
Delhiites will have to shell out more in auto and taxi fares, with the city government on Monday clearing the proposal for a hike following a demand by autorickshaws and taxi drivers after a steep rise in CNG price. “We discussed a proposal on hike of fares in the Cabinet meeting and approved it. Now, the transport department will announce the new rates in a day or two,” chief minister Sheila Dikshit said on Monday.
However, much to the relief of bus commuters, the chief minister said there will be no increase in bus fares. According to a government source, commuters travelling by autos are likely to be charged Rs 20 for the first two kilometres and thereafter Rs 6.50 for each subsequent kilometre.
At present, autos charge Rs 10 for the first kilometre and thereafter Rs 4.50 for each subsequent kilometre.
Similarly, the tariff for taxis is likely to be increased to Rs 25 for the first two kilometres instead of Rs 15 charged for the first kilometre now. The subsequent charges are likely to be Rs 13 per km as against Rs 8.50 now.
Hike in fares of autos and taxis was a long-pending demand of the unions. However, following rise in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) price by Rs 5.60 a kg, the demand for the hike picked up and the unions threatened to go on strike from Monday. Later, the unions postponed the agitation saying they will wait for the government’s announcement till Tuesday.
The CNG prices were increased recently by the Central government from Rs 21.90 to Rs 27.60 per kg.
“The likely increase in fares is fine. The new auto fares will help only the commuters who wanted to travel a short distance but auto drivers refused. Now, with Rs 20 for the first two kilometres, they will be ready to cover even a shorter distance,” said Ashok Kumar Tiwari, vice president of auto association Bharatiya Tipahiya Chalak Sangh Congress on Monday.
Earlier, transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely held discussions with auto and taxi associations before the transport department came out with a fare hike proposal. Before this, the city government had hiked the registration fee for properties and road tax for luxury cars besides hiking circle rates.
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