Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Feb 28: After days of stand-off between the district administration and the auto rickshaw drivers over the issue of auto fares, the minimum fare has finally been fixed at Rs 23, which is what the auto drivers had been demanding.
As per an order issued by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) the new fares will come into effect from Sunday March 1.
Also, every kilometre after the first 1.5 kilometre will be charged at Rs 13 (maximum three passengers).
Waiting charge - first 15 minutes free, and 25 percent of the metre charge for next 45 minutes of waiting.
Luggage charge - 20 kg free, and Rs 2 for every extra kg or in part.
Night charge - Auto drivers can demand 1.5 times the above charges between 10 pm and 5 am.
All auto drivers have been directed to display the revised charges prominently on their vehicles behind the driver's seat, along with the driver's permit attached with photograph and mobile phone number.
Also, the RTA has ordered all auto drivers to install digital metres compulsorily.
It may be recalled that in the beginning of January, the DC had ordered revised the auto fares and reduced the minimum charge from Rs 25 to Rs 20. The auto drivers refused to abide by the order and held a three-day protest. Subsequent meetings ended in deadlock, with auto drivers' unions demanding Rs 23 as minimum and district administration refusing to budge. In the meanwhile, most of the auto drivers continued to charge minimum of Rs 25 from passengers.
Auto Rickshaw Chalakara Horata Samiti leader Vishnumurthy Bhat welcomed the move and said he was yet to receive the order copy and the matter would be later discussed with the other auto drivers.
However, Arun of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike auto rickshaw drivers' union said that though the minimum charge has been fixed at Rs 23, the per kilometre charge should be fixed at Rs 14 and not Rs 13, and if this demand was not met, the auto drivers would hold protest in the coming days.