Auto Drivers Protest Fare Hike In Bengaluru
As per the revised auto fare done after a gap of four years in Bengaluru, the minimum fare has been increased to Rs 36 from Rs 30 at present: Reports
BENGALURU: Autorickshaw Drivers Union on Tuesday slammed the auto fare revision and termed the decision of Regional Transport Authority, Bengaluru City district as ‘unilateral’ and ‘unscientific’ since the revision has been initiated without taking auto-drivers into confidence.
The revised auto fare taken by Regional Transport Authority, Bengaluru City district on Monday will come into effect from August 1. Some of the recent auto meter fare revisions in Bengaluru city were on December 20, 2013 and later the fares were revised after a gap of 8 years in December, 2021.
As per the revised auto fare done after a gap of four years in Bengaluru, the minimum fare has been increased to Rs 36 from Rs 30 at present. Minimum fare fixed for the first 2-km is Rs 36 while the Autorickshaw Drivers Union demand fare fixation of Rs 40 for first 2-km travel in the autorickshaws.
For every additional kilometer travel, the fare has been revised from Rs 15 to Rs 18 and the Autorickshaw Drivers Union demand fixation of meter fare to be Rs 20.
Secretary of the Autorickshaw Drivers Union General Secretary Rudramurthy told Deccan Chronicle the Union members slammed the decision to revise the auto fares in Bengaluru city and pointed auto meter fares in Shivamogga, Mangaluru and Udupi have Rs 40 as minimum fare for first 2-km travel in auto rickshaws and the revision is lesser in Bengaluru which ‘unacceptable.’
Explaining the reason for their opposition to the latest fare revision, Rudramurthy said the latest fare is not in the interest of auto-drivers and does not help auto-drivers.
Rudramurthy alleged the officials concerned of RTO have overlooked services rendered by app based auto-rickshaws wherein passengers are charged Rs 60-Rs 80 minimum travel fare for first 2-km of travel in Bengaluru and stated passengers are ready to pay Rs 40 for first 2-km travel but the officials concerned should fix the fare as demanded by the auto-drivers.
The general secretary pointed out a memorandum submitted to the Minister of Transport Ramalinga Reddy demanding auto fare revision keeping in mind the rise in the prices of essential commodities and the memorandum demanded the Minister to revise the auto fare once a year among others.
