Bangalore autorickshaws demand minimum fare Rs24

Autorickshaw drivers in the city are demanding that the minimum fare be revised to Rs24; for every kilometre after that, Rs12 should be charged.

"When the price of gas was Rs38 per litre, the price per kilometre was Rs9. Now, the gas rates have gone up to Rs44 and the auto fares remain the same," said Rudramurthy, president of Bangalore North division of Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU).
He added that the price of oil and spare parts, too, had more than doubled.

Gangaraju, organising secretary, of ARDU, Bangalore West, said the bad condition of city's roads has forced them to seek revision of the fare.

"How is an auto driver supposed to earn a reasonable income in a day when to travel even for a minimum distance of two-three kilometres takes at least half an hour to 45 minutes?" he said.

He added that owing to Metro work, there are potholes everywhere. Traffic jams, too, are a day-long phenomenon.
In these conditions, an auto driver is unable to earn his daily bread, he said, adding that most of the meagre earnings go towards maintaining the vehicle.

"Add to this the rise in prices of everything, including food items as well as fuel, and we are left with almost nothing," he rued.
Asked if protests are likely if the government does not heed their demands, Rudramurthy said, "We will give the government adequate time to consider our demands. A committee will be formed to assess the situation and take further steps as required."

The last time the fare was hiked in July 2010. Then minimum fare was increased from Rs14 to Rs17.