PUNE: The frequent hike in prices of CNG has resulted in increase in fares of autorickshaws in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Baramati.
Officials of the Pune Regional Transport office (RTO) on Monday announced that the fares for the first one-and-a-half km, will be increased to Rs23 from August 1 from Rs21 at present. Also, the per km fare after that will be Rs15, instead of earlier Rs14.
“Many autorickshaw unions had been demanding an increase in fares due to the frequent hike in prices of CNG. The RTA (regional transport authority), which is headed by the Pune collector, took consideration of the same and the fares have been hiked to support auto drivers. The new fare structure will come into effect from next month and autorickshaw drivers have been requested to approach the RTOs to recalibrate the meters of their vehicles in accordance with the new fare structure,” an RTO official told TOI.
In November last year, the RTA had increased the fares of autorickshaws from Rs18 to Rs21 for the first 1.5km and thereafter by Rs14 for every km. This hike had come after four years. Generally, autorickshaw fares are hiked by the RTO every three to four years. “However, this time, the hike took place after just 8-9 months due to high CNG prices, which has become a major issue for drivers,” another RTO official pointed out.
Last month, TOI had reported that the fares were expected to rise, and an announcement would be made soon. The price of one kg of CNG in the city is Rs85. Since December last year, the prices have gone up by more than 11 times from Rs52 to Rs85.
Shrikant Acharya, president, Aam Aadmi Party Rickshaw Chalak Sanghatna, said that they would have to calculate whether the rise in fares would help the drivers. “The cost of all commodities, in addition to CNG, is extremely high now. Also, we will not go for meter calibration again as it is a long drawn process. The RTO should come up with a proper tariff card and give it to all autorickshaw drivers. Also, the RTO needs to act on bike taxis and the transport department should immediately stop providing new permits for autorickshaws,” he said.
