Latest


Bangalore: Auto Fare to go up from Aug 1

  •   Sat, Jul 24 2010 07:18:38 AM

Bangalore: Auto Fare to go up from Aug 1

Bangalore, Jul 24 (DHNS): Autorickshaw commuters in the city, who already pay the highest fare among major metros in the country, will have to pay even more from August 1.

The government on Friday announced revised fare structure, according to which the minimum fare for the first two kms of travel will be Rs 17 and Rs 8.5 for every subsequent km. At present the minimum fare is Rs 14 and Rs 7 for every additional km.

The revised city auto fares are well above the revised fares announced last month in Mumbai and Delhi. In both these cities, the revised fare is Rs 6.5 per km—Rs  2 less than the revised fare announced for Bangalore. 

However, the announcement, made by Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner (DC) M K Aiyappa, did not satisfy auto unions. They refused to accept the revised fare and threatened to go on indefinite strike from August 1 to press their demand for still higher rates. There are an estimated 80,000 autos plying on the City roads.

“Our demand was Rs 20 as minimum fare and Rs 10 as per km fare. We are willing to finally settle for Rs 18 as minimum fare and Rs 9 as per km fare. The public are willing to pay extra.

"Their only complaint is about meter tampering and excess fare demand by auto drivers,” said H G Srinivasa Murthy, vice-president of Auto rickshaw Drivers’ Union.A transport department official said the auto unions’ demand for fare revision violated a resolution adopted on January 30, 2008 to which they were parties.

The resolution was adopted at the time of the last revision of the auto fare. 

“The resolution (circular) clearly states that the next revision of auto fares may be considered only if the price of auto-LPG is increased beyond Rs. 45 per litre or after a period of three years from February 1, 2008,” the official said. The fuel price has not crossed the Rs. 45 a kilolitre mark. The three-year lock in period for the present fare expires only early next year.

No consent from drivers

When asked about the revised fare, Murthy said: “This was drafted that did not have the consent of auto unions. We do not accept the circular. It has not taken into account the cost of living and prices of essential commodities.”

According to Aiyappa, “All auto rickshaws will have to get their meters re-calibrated within a period of 60 days from then. Till then, a fare conversion chart should be used by the auto drivers. We would have it distributed at all regional transport offices (RTO) from Monday onwards.”

As soon as the announcement, about 200 auto drivers, who were present at the venue, termed the new fare as “a meagre increase.”

Quarrel ensues

But they were divided among themselves. A quarrel ensued between the representatives of various auto unions that forced policemen to resort to lathi-charge.

Two automen injured in the scuffle were admitted to Victoria Hospital and later to Mahaveer Jain Hospital for treatment. The auto unions that did not accept the revised fares have decided to hold a dharna on Saturday at Mahatma Gandhi Park on M G Road.
  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • shesu, bangalore

    Mon, Aug 02 2010

    1. The meters of most of the autos are tampered..
    2. Even digital meters of autos can be tampered, so it is not meters, but nature of the auto-drivers that has to be changed.
    3. In places like bus-stands and railway stations, auto-drivers always try to bargain for more than the meter prices (double, or 1.5 times, etc, are the first words that come from them).
    4. Most of them are used to straight away refusing to go to places beyond their locality, and ask for return fare as well.
    5. They try to charge 1.5 times (night fare) right from 9.00pm until 6.00am, inspite of the official timing for "night-charges" being 10.00pm until 5.00am
    6. They lack basic courtesy towards passengers and start fighting if their "terms" are not accepted.
    7. They even misguide people and take you for a long distance with their false meters by saying, it is "one-way" along the shorter routes.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • divya, bangalore

    Sun, Aug 01 2010

    The Auto drivers , first of all , need to ADHERE to rules laid our by THEIR union.Irrespective of the distance and time , the drivers DO NOT PUT ON THE METER . they charge as per their whim and fancy. HOW DARE THEY ASK FOR A PRICE HIKE??????

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Royston, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    It's all fine to hike the fare but first all these auto drivers need to install digital meters without fail. The analog ones are easily tampered with. I just hope they are all forced to have digital meters when they go to have the meters calibrated. I am not even sure if there is a rule about digital meters. Most auto drivers have no soul inside them. If only some good sense prevails in all of them. Bangalore auto drivers are the worst.. once the minimum fare becomes 17, these guys will never return the 3 rupees change for 20 rupees. Change illa Sir!! their most favourite phrase..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Leena martis, Mangalore

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    Minimum fare is Rs14/-if we give 15Rs/- driver wl not give the change back some time they will fight with us.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred, Bangalore / Dammam

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    Autorickshaw fare increase is OK, we the common people have no other choice. It is also sad that in many areas of Bangalore, rickshaw drivers are either refuse or charge exhorbitant fare. RTO has no control over them and may be they also have some hafta. Majority of drivers do not ply on meters and charge whatever they feel. Can some RTO / Police officials visit Abbiah Reddy Layout, Kaggadasa Pura, C. V. raman Nagar at 4th B cross rickshaw stand and see the problems general public are facing due to these rickshaw drivers (this is one example - there are many more areas like this in Bangalore).

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rakesh, Udupi

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    Well said Gladson...... You have a very valid point... hope every one starts thinking like you.......

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronnie, M'lore

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    The other day I saw a leading Indian Economist arguing in favor of recent hike in fuel price in TV. His point was that, on average, petrol is consumed mostly by haves and do not affect the lower and middle class people. This time around, he may come up with another point to argue that autos are used only by upper class. I think , this economist of high caliber who is also an adviser to our current government is holding tunnel's view. It doesn’t take rocket science to understand the cascading effect of fuel price on everything which eventually inflates price of everything. Pranabji affirms that the inflation will come down by the end of this year. It’s a joke!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kevin Mascarenhas, Mangalore

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    It is high time the transport system is improved and subsidised by the government as many still find it expensive. Transport should be brought under the essential services act and government should float a parrallel auto company to bring about a logical rate for transport.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Girish Kumar, Mumbai

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    Gladson, Brahmavar F.Y.I fuel price is not much difference....

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter Ferns, Bejai / Mumbai

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    It appears there is no control whatsoever on the over-speeding city buses and the ever-greedy rickshaw drivers demanding exhorbitant increase in fares. I wonder who is ruling the roost in our State?

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gladson, Brahmavar

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    When fuel price is hiked, it appliies to all the states of India and hike too is same. But as reported here, auto fares are the highest in Karnataka than other states. This clearly means fuel prices in Karnataka too are quite higer than other states which puts the ball back into the court of state govt. Why can't Karnataka govt slash tax? Recently after the fuel hike, the Delhi govt slashed its taxes and thus petrol and diesel is almost Rs 2.50 cheaper per litre in Delhi,I guess!. Petrol prices are soaring all around the world. Even UAE recently increased the price and they are selling it around AED 1.75 which is approximately Rs 20. If tax slabs are reduced (if they can't be removed), even in India fuel could be available at affordable price. If the govt is not able to sell fuel at affordable prices despite huge amount of subsidy, it means that the issue is of not one particular govt but our entire system. In our state, bus operators, rickshaw/taxi unions just wait for hike in fuel prices. But even when the govt had slashed fuel prices by Rs 5 per litre last year, no one bothered to lower their fare and none of us either questioned this too. Most of us are just have this 'chalta hai' attitude. The problems of the society are never ours because we hardly have this community spirit. We are pained and troubled when it hurts us personally. "If I able to afford Rs 20 for auto, why should I bother about someone who is not able to afford?", seems to be our attitude!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishu Shetty, Nandikoor /kuwait

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    To help & protect multinational & corporate companies extra burden placed on shoulder’s of common man .After lifting extra burden now common man’s back bone broken he cannot walk even now!!! I remember In Movie Kranthi Veer Nana Paterkar dialogue now .Jameen ke keede banchuka aam Admi ..

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Shyam Kunder, Bangalore

    Sat, Jul 24 2010


    WHY THE RATES ARE MORE IN BANGALORE COMPARED TO OTHER STATES?

    The revised city auto fares are well above the revised fares.
    announced last month in Mumbai and Delhi. In both these cities, the revised fare is Rs 6.5 per km—Rs 2 less than the revised fare announced for Bangalore.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Laveena serrao, Mumbai

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    Actually the poor and the middle class people will be affected by this new fare. So how will the country become the developed country by 2020 unless the government cater the needs of those people?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • S.L.Salian, Mangalore.

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    few months back during my visit to mumbai i happened to travel by autorickshaw. for nearly 2 kms journey i was charged minimum 9 rs. the same journey here in mangalore would have cost me nothing less than rs.20. so much is the difference travelling in karnataka and elsewhere. common man here accepts everything as it comes.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • SUJITH.POLALI, riyadh

    Sat, Jul 24 2010

    achivemaents of U. P. A .GOVERMENT ,which is always agaist to comman man .& favor to the high class pepole of society .

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • nagesh nayak, bangalore

    Fri, Jul 23 2010

    BY NEXT YEAR THIS TIME MINIMUM AUTOFARE WILLBE RS. 25.00 & RS. 12.50 PER KM .

    UPA IS HAPPY IN GIVING TROUBLE TO A COMMON MAN, POORS & MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Hariprasad Hegde, Mangalore/Udupi

    Fri, Jul 23 2010

     this is more then anywhere else...dear friends better stop using rickshaws start using bus or sharing taxi.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Bangalore: Auto Fare to go up from Aug 1



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like