Auto, taxi fares up in Delhi; Mumbai may follow suit

Auto and taxi fares today went up by 35% in Delhi following increase in CNG prices while a similar hike is in the offing in Mumbai after 80,000 drivers in the commercial capital stopped plying their vehicles demanding revision in rates.

While Delhites will have to loosen their purse strings further from tomorrow, the city government made it mandatory for three-wheelers to install Global Positioning System (GPS) in their vehicles within six months.

Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said the minimum fare for autos will now be Rs 19 for the first two kms as against the current rate of Rs 10 for first kilometre. Subsequently, Rs 6.50 will be charged for every kilometre thereafter instead of the current Rs 4.50.

The last time the Delhi government had effected a raise in the fares of auto rickshaws and taxis was in 2007. 

Following a strike in Mumbai by 80,000 auto and taxi drivers that caused severe hardship to commuters, the Maharashtra government announced that it proposes to hike auto fares by Rs 2.

"The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) is expected to announce a formal decision in the backdrop of CNG price rise. We have proposed basic fare increase from Rs 9 to Rs 11 and Rs 5 to Rs 6.5 for every subsequent kilometre," state minister for transport Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said.

A decision on the auto fare hike is expected tomorrow, a transport department official said. 

Auto unions in Mumbai are demanding that the minimum fare for rickshaws be increased by Rs 6 to Rs 15 and Rs 8 for every subsequent kilometre. Rickshaws currently charge Rs 9 as
minimum fare.

Terming the strike as illegal, Vikhe-Patil said it should be called off before any talk can be held. He was speaking in Mumbai after a meeting of the sub-committee appointed by the state government with the auto unions and transport officials.

Meanwhile, Nitesh Rane, whose Swabhiman Sanghatana gave the call for today's strike, announced that it was being called off following the government proposing fare hike.

On taxi fare hike, the minister said the MMRTA would convene a meeting this week and take a final decision. 

The taxi union is asking for a hike in the minimum fare of black and yellow taxis from Rs 14 to Rs 16. Auto and taxi union leaders would meet transport department officials later in the day.

In Delhi, Lovely said that while heeding to auto unions' demand for hike in fares, the city government has made it clear to them that permits will be cancelled if the auto rickshaws fail to install GPS within the stipulated time.

"One more reason for hike in fare is to help auto rickshaw owners install GPS so that all their activities as well as compliance with metre can be monitored," he said.

According to Lovely, the minimum fare for yellow and black taxis will go up from Rs 15 to Rs 20 for the first one km while the rate will be Rs 11 instead of current Rs 8.50 for subsequent kilometre. However, no decision has been taken yet on the fare hike of radio taxis, he said.

The new fares in Delhi will come into effect from tomorrow after the government notifies the decision. 

Justifying the hike, Lovely said apart from hike in CNG prices, the annual maintenance cost of autos has gone up by 70% in last four years while the CNG prices have gone by 66% during this period.

The CNG rate in Delhi has gone up by Rs 5.60 per kg - from Rs 21.90 to Rs 27.50 per kg.