Hakim panel submits reports, officials say fare hike imminent

After a delay of more than 15 days, the one-member Hakim Committee on Friday submitted reports on fare revision formulas for taxis and autorickshaws in the city and the state.

After a delay of more than 15 days, the one-member Hakim Committee on Friday submitted reports on fare revision formulas for taxis and autorickshaws in the city and the state.

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Though the recommendations in the report were not revealed, sources in the transport department said a hike in autorickshaw and taxi fare is imminent.

A source in the transport department said the committee has suggested a separate formula for deciding fare for vehicles running on CNG and petrol.

The panel has reportedly made some changes in the parameters considered while computing the formula, which may lead to a tariff hike.

Apart from deriving a new formula for computing taxi and autorickshaw fare, the government had asked the transport department to suggest a formula to compute tariff for share-a-taxi and share-a-rickshaw schemes.

The panel was also asked to advise on adoption of either the mile or the metric system for computing the minimum flag-down distance across the state.

An RTO official said the decision could have a significant bearing on drivers as well as commuters. However, the panel’s recommendations will take some time to be accepted, if at all.

“The government may form a committee comprising officials from regional transport offices to decide what recommendations to accept,” said an official from the transport department, who requested not to be named. This could take up to two weeks, the official added.

Back in 1996, a committee under the chairmanship of PMA Hakim, came up with a set of formulas to compute taxi fare. Since then, the same formula was being used to calculate fare for taxis as well as rickshaws.

But with both taxi and autorickshaw unions demanding separate formula, the government appointed a one-man committee under Hakim for a speedy decision.