It is not certain if there is a new fare hike committee or the MMRTA is going to meet soon to discuss a hike.
Auto rickshaw unions in the city have urged the state transport department to call an urgent meeting to discuss the fare hike - or lack of it – to clear confusion among auto drivers. According to union functionaries, autos, according to state motor vehicle rules and legal metrology stipulations, are required to have to get their metres tested to ensure they have not not been tampered with. The process usually takes two to three days as the metre has to be opened, tested at a college, and then fitted back onto the rickshaw. Since a fare hike would mean all metres will have to recalibrated with the new fares, the rules stipulate that they will have to be tested again.
"It will cause inconvenience for a number of drivers who are in the process of getting their metres tested currently, as they stand to lose two to three days of business twice. It would be best if the transport department and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) convenes a meeting and clears the air on fare hike," said Thampi Kurien of the Mumbai Rickshawmen's Union.
Kurien said it would be helpful if the transport department informed them about the latest on the Hakeem committee as well. "Last year, the transport department said they had scrapped the Hakeem committee, though the July 2015 fare hike was based on Hakeem committee recommendations. What is the ground situation now? Is the committee still valid or is there a new committee? In if there is a new committee, does the Hakeem formula of fare hike, if the additional expense per kilometre of operating a rickshaw is 50 paise or more, still hold," asked Kurien.
dna, in its September 24 edition, reported on how calculations by unions as per the Hakeem formula was throwing up an additional expense of 49 paise, one paise short of the threshold 50 paise per kilometre mark.
A query sent to SK Srivasatava, Additional Chief Secretary (transport) and also Chairman of MMRTA, drew a blank. dna asked Srivastava if the state government had plans set up a new fare hike committee or whether the MMRTA would be meeting soon to discuss a hike. The MMRTA comprises the ACS (transport), Joint Commissioner (traffic police), State Transport Commissioner, Additional Transport Commissioner and the Regional Transport Officers of Mumbai Central, East, West, Thane and Panvel RTOs.
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