Brace up for auto fare hike in Pune, decision tomorrow

Commuting by autorickshaws is likely to get costlier with the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) all set to increase the fares and set the first stage at 1.5 km instead of the present 1 km. Autorickshaw unions are demanding that the rates be increased to Rs13 for the first km and Rs12 for every subsequent km.

The final decision will be taken at a meeting to be held on Tuesday. Another important proposal of scrapping autorickshaws more than 16 years old will also be considered.

Arun Yeola, Pune regional transport officer, said the calculations as per the Hakim committee guidelines are ready and the new rates will be officially declared at the RTA meeting on Tuesday. “The autorickshaw unions in the city have demanded increasing the distance of the first stage from 1 km to 1.5 km. As of date there are some 43,000 autorickshaws, therefore it will take 45 days for the calibration of 

first stage of the meters. We have already spoken to the meter manufacturing company for the changes in the meter,” said Yeola.

The RTO has taken into account the cost of living and rising prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) and petrol while calculating the hike in autorickshaw fares. The last fare hike was done in November 2011. 

Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat president Baba Kamble said, “As per the Hakim Committee report, the fare should be revised depending on the cost of living. The rate for the first km should be revised from Rs11 to Rs13 and the subsequent km from Rs10 to 12.”