Delhi govt forms panel to review auto fares

Auto rides may become costlier if the committee agrees to the demands of auto unions for a fare revision.

The Delhi government has formed a three-member committee to review waiting charges for three-wheeler autorickshaws.

Auto rides may become costlier if the committee agrees to the demands of auto unions for a fare revision.

Auto rides may become costlier if the committee agrees to the demands of auto unions for a fare revision.

Transport Minister Satyendar Jain has directed the committee, comprising senior officers from the transport department, DIIMTS and the department of weights and measures, to submit its report on revision of the existing waiting charge.

Autorickshaw unions have been demanding revision of waiting charges for a long time, saying the current charges were very nominal, government officials said.

As per existing fare system, if an auto gets stuck in traffic congestion and is also asked to wait for more than 16 minutes, a passenger pays the driver around 60 to 80 paisa per minute.

“The transport minister has asked the three-member committee to prepare a report on the demand to revise the waiting charge and submit it as soon as possible,” the official said.

The Delhi Autoricksaw Sangh has welcomed the government’s move and asked it to immediately introduce revised waiting charges.

“There has been no increase in waiting charge for several years. We have been demanding that new waiting charge in traffic jams should be included in the actual fare,” said Rajendra Soni, general secretary of Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh.

The government had earlier formed a four-member committee to revise fares of autorickshaws and yellow-black (kaali-peeli) taxis.

The committee consisting of officials of the Delhi transport department will submit its report to the government. The fares were last revised by the then Sheila Dikshit government in May 2013.

At present, the base fare for autos is Rs 25 for the first two kilometres, while for every subsequent kilometre travellers have to pay Rs 8.

Those choosing yellow-black taxis for travel have to pay Rs 25 for the first kilometre. The charges for every subsequent kilometre is Rs 14 for non-AC taxis and Rs 16 for AC taxis.

There are about 80,000 autorickshaws and 12,000 yellow-black taxis in Delhi.