Fall in daily run cause for fare hike
Highlighting one of the reasons for the recent fare hikes, the transport commissioner on Saturday said that in the last one-and-a-half decade, the average daily run of taxis in Mumbai has come down to 75 km from 125 km in 1996. Apart from inflation, this is one of the prime reasons for consistent hike in fares. Moreover, the dwindling average kilometres only reflects the increase in the amount of traffic congestion on Mumbai’s roads.
Speaking to the media, Mr More said that the Patankar Committee formed in 1993 had set an average of 120 km daily to determine the tariffs for taxis and autorickshaws.
“If we see the average distance that the taxis cover everyday, then it is not more than 75 km. It is primarily because of traffic congestion,” Mr More said, referring to the contents of the Hakim Committee report that was submitted a couple of weeks ago.
The statistics show that around seven lakh vehicles have increased on Mumbai’s roads between 2004 and 2011. Last year, there were around 19 lakh vehicles in Mumbai and on an average, every year, another lakh new automobiles hit the roads. As the average distance covered by taxis everyday has come down drastically, it also means less earnings for drivers and owners. If the roads are relatively empty, it will give them an opportunity to earn more. Hence, in order to keep a lower limit for earnings or profits for drivers or owners, the authorities have kept the bar at `11,000 per month as personal expenditure for drivers.
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