Bangalore: The district transport authority headed by the DC has decided to revise the auto fares in the city from December 20. The minimum fare for the first 1.9 kilometres will be Rs.25, up from Rs.20, for the first 1.8 kilometres. The subsequent fare per kilometre has been revised from the existing Rs.11 to Rs 13.
According to sources in the state transport department, a sub-committee formed by the urban DC, G. C. Prakash, had favoured revision of auto fares in proportion to the increase in the auto LPG rate, and also taking into consideration other factors such as cost of living in the city.
"Even though the committee had favoured revision of fares from the existing Rs.11 to Rs. 12 after the minimum 1.8 kilometres based on the demand of the auto unions, it has been revised to Rs.13 after the first 1.9 kilometres," said an officer from the transport department.
Prakash said that the earlier minimum charge was applicable for the first 1.8 kilometres and it will now be applicable for 1.9 kilometres. "The new rates will come into effect from December 20," he said.
Somashekhar, president of the Bangalore Auto Drivers Union, told this newspaper that they had to demand the revision of fares for various reasons. "The auto LPG rate is highly fluctuating. Cost of living in the city has increased,” he said.
Good service: Somashekhar claimed that it is due to the delay in revising the fares that auto drivers reject the request of passengers to go a short distance. "This fare revision will definitely help us to serve the city people more," he said.
Justified: according to RTO officials, the government revised the fares because it found that the demands of the auto unions were genuine. "We must take all the issues into consideration. Everyone is aware that the cost of living in the city has increased and so revision was inevitable," said an officer.
Passengers upset: It is the ordinary citizen who will be at the receiving end of the fare hike. Kannika Gowda, an executive with a private firm, says that even though the revision may be justified by the government, it will affect the general public a lot. "Even the bus fare has been increased. The common man is always at the receiving end," she said.
