Minimum distance for autos and taxis could come down to 1.5km

In addition to base fare hike, committee recommends that night-time fare be hiked to 30% from the current 25% for both autos, taxis.

Autorickshaw and taxi fares could go up by as much as Rs 3 – with the minimum fare becoming Rs 15 for autos and Rs 20 for taxis. Also, the minimum distance could become 1.5 km instead of the current 1.6km, if the state government accepts the recommendations of the single-member PMA Hakim panel report. Night travel, too, on these public transport vehicles, is likely to cost more.

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In its two-part report of 141 pages, which the transport department has uplinked on its website following a demand from auto and taxi unions, former union secretary PMA Hakim has also recommended a hike of Rs 10.15 and Rs 13.08 for every additional kilometre after the minimum 1.5 km for autorickshaws and taxis respectively.

On April 13, 2012, the state government had appointed the single-member PMA Hakim committee to decide a new formula, which had not been changed since 1996, to calculate taxi and autorickshaw fares. After holding discussions with all stakeholders like taxi unions, auto rickshaw unions, consumer forums and RTO officials, the Hakim panel submitted its report on July 27.

In its report, the Hakim committee has also suggested that the night-time fare be hiked to 30% instead of the current 25% for both autos and taxis.