Auto, taxi fares in Mumbai likely to rise soon; cap to be set on Ola, Uber surge pricing

Maharashtra government may determine new rates in two months, after studying Khatua panel report that was submitted on Monday

Mumbaiites may soon have to pay higher fares to travel by auto-rickshaws and the traditional black-and-yellow taxis. They will also likely benefit from a cap being set on surge pricing for app-based services of taxi aggregators such as Ola and Uber.

The Maharashtra government may hike taxi and auto fares by the end of this year. (HT File)

The four-member Khatua committee, appointed to determine fares of autos and cabs, submitted its report to the Maharashtra government on Monday with these recommendations, sources said.

In 2012, following a sharp rise in auto and taxi fares, the government announced that a three-member committee led by a retired high court judge would review the fare hike formula derived by the single-member panel of former IAS officer PMA Hakim. However, no retired judge showed interest in heading the panel, and after a delay of a year-and-a-half, on October 10, 2016, the government appointed the Khatua panel, led by former IAS official BC Khatua.

The panel was supposed to submit its report within 90 days, but it took a whole year to submit its 224-page report to state transport minister Diwakar Raote. Sources said the report got delayed as the government, at a later date, asked the panel to also look at the fares of app-based and electric taxis and autos.

Maharashtra has around 7.5 lakh auto-rickshaws and 1.5-2 lakh taxis, including app-based cabs. Of this, the maximum number – around 1 lakh taxis and 2.5 lakh autos – operates in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.