Pune: Autorickshaw in the city, Pimpri Chinchwad And Baramati will charge Rs 25 instead of the existing Rs 21 for the first 1.5 km and Rs 17 for each subsequent km, as against the existing rate of Rs 14 from September 1.
“We met representatives of various autorickshaw unions before fixing the new fares,” Pune Regional Transport Officer Ajit Shinde said. regional transport authority (RTA). The meeting, during which the new fare structure was finalized, was presided over by the District Collector.
“Fare was hiked for the second time in the last nine months due to frequent fluctuations in CNG prices, which are used by almost all autorickshaws. After a cut of Rs 4 per kg on August 1, the cost of one kg of CNG in Pune is now Rs 87. The prices have come down by Rs.4 from August 17 onwards.”
Shinde said autorickshaw owners should calibrate the meters with the new fares by October 31. “After this, action will be taken against vehicles without meters. Permits of vehicles will be cancelled,” he said.
The RTA had announced the new autorickshaw fares at the end of July and it was to come into effect from August 1. However, autorickshaw unions opposed that hike and the RTA had to postpone the hike.
Shrikant Acharya, President Aam Aadmi Rickshaw Driver OrganizationSaid that though the revised fares were satisfactory, several other issues remained. “We will discuss the new fare in detail and calculate it as per the recommendations given by Khatua Committee, The State Transport Commissioner has called a meeting of all autorickshaw unions on 6 September. Issues like discontinuing the open permit system and the problem of bike taxis in the marginal areas of the city will be discussed in the meeting. Autorickshaw unions in Mumbai have called for a strike from September 15. We will keep an eye on the situation there.
The latest hike in autorickshaw fares was not good news for those who depend on three wheelers for their daily commute. “If autorickshaw becomes such an expensive affair, how will we afford our daily commute? Pune doesn’t have proper public transport system. Pune Metro is still far from being completed?” Bhaskar Kadam, who travels to his office in an autorickshaw.
FacebookTwitterinstagramKu APPyoutube