Auto-rickshaw fares in Bengaluru set to rise, unions demand minimum fare of Rs 40

Over the past decade, Bengaluru has seen two significant auto-rickshaw fare revisions. The most recent adjustment occurred in November 2021, setting the base fare at Rs 30 for the first 1.9 km and Rs 15 for each subsequent km. Before that, fares were revised in 2013. In 2024, several auto-rickshaw unions proposed increasing the base fare to Rs 40 for the first two km and Rs 20 for every additional kilometre, citing rising fuel and maintenance costs.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sahil Bagla, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East), which was attended by the representatives of over 15 drivers’ unions in Bengaluru with Soundarya K S, Secretary, Transport Department, also in attendance. The unions formally proposed the fare hike, which will now be reviewed by the District Transport Authority (DTA), the body responsible for setting auto fares in the city.

DTA is headed by Jagadeesha G, Urban Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru, and includes 10 regional transport officers (RTOs), deputy commissioners of police (traffic), and driver union representatives.

To evaluate the fare hike proposal, DTA has formed a five-member committee, which will assess various factors, including traffic conditions, passenger demand, and economic viability, before submitting a report to the deputy commissioner. The committee comprises Bagla as chairman; Soundarya K S as secretary; S Mallesh, RTO, Jayanagar; and an official from the Department of Legal Metrology.

Bagla said discussions on revising auto-rickshaw fares in Bengaluru are ongoing. “During the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) meeting last month, the Deputy Commissioner constituted a sub-committee to assess the need for a fare revision. Today’s meeting with auto unions was aimed at gathering their views on whether fares should be increased or remain unchanged. While some unions supported a hike, others preferred maintaining the current rates. The next step is for officials to evaluate these inputs and finalise recommendations, which will be submitted to the deputy commissioner. A final decision will be taken in the upcoming RTA meeting,” he said.

Tanveer Pasha, president of the Auto Union Federation, cited rising costs to emphasise the need for a fare hike. “Metro and BMTC bus fares have increased, and inflation has impacted all sectors. Auto fares, however, have remained unchanged for years. The last revision brought the minimum fare to Rs 30 for the first 2 km and Rs 15 per km thereafter. We are now demanding a Rs 40 base fare with Rs 20 per km charges. Most unions support this proposal, and we have received a positive response from officials. A new fare structure is expected to be announced soon,” he said.

Pasha also criticised the operations of Ola and Uber in the auto-rickshaw sector. “The government regulates auto fares through a metered system, issuing permits with fixed pricing. However, aggregators circumvent these rules, charging inconsistent rates—sometimes Rs 40, Rs 50, or even Rs 60, while at other times as low as Rs 18. This raises questions about the relevance of metered fares. We have urged authorities to strictly enforce regulations on app-based aggregators,” he added.

He also addressed concerns over fare exploitation by some auto-rickshaw drivers. “Government-mandated fares must be uniformly implemented, but some drivers overcharge passengers, particularly near metro stations, demanding Rs 60 or even Rs 190 for short distances. We strongly oppose such practices. To curb this, we propose displaying a toll-free complaint number in every auto. If a driver refuses a ride or overcharges, immediate action should be taken. The traffic department must introduce clear guidelines and awareness campaigns to tackle this issue.”

Highlighting the impact of rising costs on drivers, Pasha said, “Two years ago, CNG was priced between Rs 47 and Rs 50 per kg. Today, it has nearly doubled to around Rs 90 per kg. Additionally, expenses such as license renewals and permit fees have increased. Given these challenges, a fare adjustment is essential, and we have urged authorities to approve a revision at the earliest.”