It was announced that the base taxi fare in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will go up by Rs2 to Rs16 for the first 1.6km. The fare per km thereafter will go up by Re1 to Rs10.
Even as the island city struggled to get to work on Wednesday morning, thanks to the continued disruption in taxi services, there was more bad news in store for commuters. In the evening, it was announced that the base taxi fare in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will go up by Rs2 to Rs16 for the first 1.6km. The fare per km thereafter will go up by Re1 to Rs10.
The decision, taken after a meeting of taxi unions with the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Transport Authority (MMRTA) at Mantralaya on Wednesday, however, holds little promise for passengers in the form of electronic meters, uniform tariff rates, etc.
“The fare hike is based on the formula laid down by the Hakeem committee and is based on four parameters: capital cost of vehicle, price index, cost of insurance and taxes, and fuel prices,” CS Sangitrao, transport secretary, said after the meeting.
He said the unions had sought a Rs4 hike in the basic fare and Rs3 for the subsequent per km fare.
“The authority (MMRTA) has taken the decision keeping the interests of the passengers in mind. The hike will come into force as soon as the new tariff cards are ready and approved by the regional transport authority,” he said, adding that the night time fare and fare for air-conditioned taxis will be 25% more than the ordinary fare.
Taxi unions have announced that the managing committee of the unions will take a final call on the proposed fare hike offered by the MMRTA. “Once the decision is taken by the committee, we will start implementing the new rate from June 27,” said AL Quadros, general secretary of the Mumbai Taximen’s Union.
However, the taxi unions and the government were not ready to take the responsibility for the taxi operators going on strike abruptly and holding Mumbaikars to ransom. Quadros maintained that the strike was “government-sponsored”.
Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil announced late on Wednesday that action would be taken against taxi and auto operators who participated in the “illegal” strike.
“We have directed the transport authorities to take action against the operators. The errant ones could lose their licences and might have to pay up for the damage caused to public property.
“The responsibility of taking action against the errant taxi operators lies with the transport commissioner. The regional authorities may take action against the operators,” Sangitrao said.
The transport department also failed to take assurances from the taxi unions regarding the issues faced by the taxi and auto passengers. Transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil had announced that his department would ensure that electronic meter, uniform tariff and phasing out of old taxis are implemented before allowing the tariff hike.
Transport commissioner Dilip Jadhav said: “All those are separate issues and will be sorted out later. There are some technical difficulties for electronic meters, which will be sorted out in the next couple of months.”
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