manoj

Auto, taxi and bus rides to cost a lot more, announcement soon

An autorickshaw ride could soon cost you 50 per cent more than what you are paying right now. A bus ride in the city could cost a minimum of Rs 5, no matter how short your journey is.

The Delhi cabinet will notify an increase in the fares of autorickshaws, taxis and buses in the first week of May after it goes through the , recommendations of the Fare Fixation Committee it had constituted last year. The committee, having finalised its report, will present it to the Delhi government on May 1.

Delhi’s Transport Minister Haroon said: “We have got inputs from all quarters and a rationalisation of the fare structure will be done next week.” The autorickshaw fare hike is expected to be the stiffest, rising by at least 50 per cent of the current rates, according to sources in the government. Currently, the charge is Rs 8 for the first kilometre and Rs 3.50 for every subsequent kilometre. The Fare Fixation Committee has recommended a uniform minimum of Rs 5-6 per km.

For black-and-yellow taxis, the existing fare is Rs 13 for the first km and Rs 7 for every subsequent km. The new rate is likely to be a flat Rs 10 per km. The fare for the Radio Taxis, at Rs 15 per km, will remain unchanged.

Bus fares of the DTC and private operators will be either Rs 5 or Rs 10. All other ticket denominations will be done away with. The lower fare will be charged for the first 8 km. It has been recommended that a bus be allowed to run maximum 16 km each way on its route.

Yusuf said the fare hike had become necessary with CNG becoming costlier. DTC officials said the hike in the price of CNG last year was costing the corporation an additional Rs 9 crore every month.

DELHI METRO: No change in fares for now, thankfully.
The fares for Radio Taxis too have been left untouched.

Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Delhi Edition)
Date Of Publish: 27-Apr-07

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manoj

AN INCREASE in auto fares may not solve the problems faced by commuters in the Capital, who say the government needs to complement the hike with an effective monitoring mechanism that ensures drivers following rules and check if autos have proper meters. Auto fares are likely to be increased by 50 per cent of the current charges in May, with an expected uniform minimum of Rs 5-6 per kilometre. The transport ministry appears confident this would change the attitude of auto drivers.

Commuters, however, are doubtful about it. "Fares are not being hiked for the first time. The government had increased fares back in 2002 also, but auto drivers would still fleece commuters. What is the guarantee that they will go by the meter now?" said Akanksha Sharma. For Anil Shukla, a Sarita Vihar resident, commuting to his office in Lajpat Nagar is a daily ordeaL "Auto drivers never go by meter I fear that once the fare is hiked, they will start demanding more money," he said. The problems faced by auto drivers may also not change.

According to rough estimates, private financers own over 60 per cent of the 55,000 registered autos in the city. Auto drivers hire them on a daily rental basis. The average going rate for an auto is Rs 250 for half a day and Rs 400 for a full day. "These rentals will also increase when the fare is hiked. A section of drivers will still continue to overcharge if the transport department does not take concrete steps to check such malpractices," said Som Nath, president of Taxi & Auto Drivers' Sangarsh Samiti.

Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Delhi Edition)
Date Of Publish: 30-Apr-07

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Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.