TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mangalore, Apr 2: The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will soon announce revision of autorickshaw fares. 

This follows an appeal by auto unions in view of increased fuel prices and spare parts, at the RTA meeting held at the deputy commissioner’s office here on Monday. 

The auto unions had put up a proposal to increase the minimum fare from the present Rs 11 to Rs 15 for 1.5 km, and Rs 10 for the next km after minimum, from Rs 7. The RTA did the last revision in November 2006. Ivan D’Souza, honorary president of one of the auto unions, urged DC Maheshwar Rao, who is also chairman of RTA, to increase it to Rs 14 and Rs 9 respectively. There were also suggestions to fix the minimum at Rs 9 for the first km and Rs 8 thereafter. 

Hanumanth Kamath, president of Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi, admitted that the prices of fuel and other essential commodities had gone up, but said if the fares were increased, it would burden the common man, whose salary remained constant. 

DC Rao said that though the price of petrol was less than what it was when the last price hike was effected in 2006, the price of LPG, used by many autos here, had gone up as also the prices of spare parts. 

He said he would take all these aspects into consideration before arriving at the final rate. Auto drivers also made a mention to the DC about the increase in auto fare in Bangalore, saying that it should be at least 25 per cent higher as the terrain here was undulating.