Price hike fuels outrage, fear

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With diesel price going up by nearly Rs 6, it will have a cascading effect on the transport sector. Share autos and Tata Magic vans have already hiked fares across TN and prices of essential commodities are likely to go up considerably, lorry-owners say, as freight rates would be increased soon.

Besides, the fares of the call taxis are likely to up, while school van operators are contemplating a hike too. Omnibus operators have announced a fare hike from Monday, ranging between Rs 30 and Rs 50.

Diesel-operated ‘Ape’ autos and ‘Tata Magic’ vans, more commonly known as share autos, ‘officially’ hiked their fares on Friday morning. Considering the frequency and comfort that these vehicles offer to users, share autos have become a popular mode of transport and Chennaiites are upset over the diesel price hike.

Hundreds of commuters who largely depend on these vehicles have expressed their anger over the price hike. “We are terribly upset by the fare hike and have to return to buses again,” said Ms S. Uma, a housewife from Adambakkam. She added that they could not afford the fleecing autorickshaws for daily commuting.

Fares of share autos have been increased from a minimum of Rs 2 to a maximum of Rs 10, depending upon the distance. Short distance commuters are the worst hit.

“We earn more profit only from short distance travellers... For instance, we have not hiked the fare of Rs 30 to Mogappair from T. Nagar but have hiked the minimum fare to Rs 7 from Rs 5, and the corresponding slabs have been increased to Rs 10 from Rs 7, and to Rs 15 from Rs 10,” said Mr Sridhar, a Tata Magic van driver in T. Nagar.

Operators of school vans, omnibuses and call taxis have not announced a hike immediately, but are likely to do it shortly.

“We are expecting a rollback or we would increase fares by Rs 30 to Rs 50 from Monday,” Mr Afsal, president, state omnibus owners federation, told DC.

Cap on cylinders shocks consumers; calls flood gas dealers

Gas dealers were on Friday flooded with frantic calls from consumers confused by the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders to six per household in a year announced by the governmentand rumours that only three more gas cylinders would be available at subsidised rates till March 2013.

The government in its statement on Thursday said any number of cylinders would be available over and above the cap of six cylinders at market rate, but only three would be available at subsidised rates to each consumer in the remaining part of the current financial year.

While a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder costs Rs 386.50 today, the market rate of non-subsidised cylinders could go up to Rs 730, subject to “notification by oil marketing companies on a monthly basis.”

“Already the delivery boys are demanding Rs 410 for every cylinder including their tips. With this cap, if I am forced to buy a cylinder for Rs 730, it will be very hard on my purse,” said 68-year-old Saroja Krishnan, a retired government servant.

Oil companies confirmed only 3 cylinders will be available at subsidised rates till March 2013.