Taxi fare hiked by Re1 in Mumbai

From next week, you will have to pay extra for your taxi ride.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) on Tuesday hiked the taxi fare in Mumbai by Re1 for the minimum distance of 1.6km and 50paise for each kilometre thereafter.
This means the minimum fare will now be Rs17 and Rs10.50 for each kilometer thereafter. This fare structure will come into effect from March 18 midnight.

“We decided on the fare hike after calculating the increase in Compressed Natural Gas price according to the Hakim Committee and not what Anthony Quadros’ Mumbai Taximen’s Union (MTU) wanted,” said a senior transport official who attended the meeting.

Quadros said he was satisfied. “Though we would have preferred a hike of Rs4 for the minimum distance and Rs2 for each kilometre thereafter, even this hike is welcome.”

This means that the latest threat to strike by the taxi union has been withdrawn, as reported by DNA on Sunday.

The decision to hike taxi fares in the city comes after an increase in CNG prices from Rs31.47 per kg to  Rs33.10 per kg and also due to the rise in consumer index. 

During Tuesday’s meeting, it was also decided that autorickshaw fare in Navi Mumbai must be slashed as more than 80% of the autos have converted from petrol to cheaper CNG engines, but the still charge the fare as per the petrol prices.

The revised fares in Navi Mumbai will be Rs11 for 1.6 m from the earlier Rs15 and Rs7 for each subsequent kilometre from the earlier Rs9.50.

“Whatever be the demand for the hike, we have allowed the hike based on the set formula,” said SK Sharma, state principal secretary (transport).