Prepaid auto fare controversy continues

The issue of fares of the prepaid rickshaw service in Pune is once again surrounded by controversy. As per the Hakim committee report which has been accepted by the state government, only Rs10 should be charged extra for the service. However, rickshaw passengers in Pune have to pay 20% extra apart from the regular fare and a service charge of Rs5 which Pune RTO claims to be the right formula. The Grahak Panchayat has claimed that the formula that Pune RTO has used to calculate prepaid fare is faulty and is going to oppose it..

As per Hakim committee’s recommendation, only Rs10 should be charged extra apart from the actual fare. However, passengers using the prepaid rickshaw service at Pune railway station have to pay more charges. Passengers also have to pay Rs5 extra as a service charge to the private booth operator.

Pune regional transport officer Arun Yeola told DNA, “ We have calculated the fares as per our formula and they are already less. Hence, there is no need to revise the fares.”