Consumer body to dispute hike in taxi, auto fares in Mumbai

The Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP), a leading consumer protection group, is thinking of challenging the auto and taxi fare hike by the state transport department.

The hike, many Consumer activists claim, has been allowed without following the set formula. 

The panchayat has claimed that the fare rise for both taxi and autos work out to Re1 maximum even after taking all the aspects into consideration.

According to the five parameters — cost of vehicles, cost of fuel, living price index, expenditure towards taxes and insurances — which are part of the formula set by the Hakeem committee in 1996, and also after considering the idle running of the vehicles, the base fare for autos should be Rs9.96. and Rs6.50 per km thereafter against Rs11 and Rs7 respectively allowed by the government. 

“We put this calculation in the meeting held on June 22 and argued for 45 minutes before the transport minister. But the government bowed to the pressure by the unions and allowed the hike of Rs2,” said Shirish Deshpande of MGP. “Even the calculation about the life span of vehicles and idle running is blown out of proportion and has no base of any study or survey.

The unions claim idle running is up to 20%, which in any case cannot be admitted in a city like Mumbai, where the autos refuse more than 50% passengers.”

Sunil Mone, head of consumer rights protection cell of the BJP, said the decision was pre-planned and the government was hand in gloves with the unions.

“The Sharad Rao-led auto unions by demanding a hike of Rs6 built up pressure and an environment was created for the substantial rise,” Mone pointed out.