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Days after autorickshaw and taxi unions in the capital threatened to go on an indefinite strike demanding subsidy on CNG prices, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot Friday said the government is considering setting up a committee to revise auto and taxi fares in Delhi.
“Due to rising fuel prices, auto/taxi unions have been demanding revision of fares. The Arvind Kejriwal-led government understands their concerns. A committee shall soon be constituted by the transport department, and it shall furnish its recommendations in a time-bound manner,” Gahlot tweeted.
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Following the hike in CNG prices, taxi and cab unions staged protests on April 8 demanding slashing of prices, and the Delhi autorickshaw union protested on April 11 demanding a subsidy of Rs 35 per kg on CNG. For the second time this week, auto and cab unions like Delhi Auto Sangh, Delhi Gramin Union, Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association, Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi, Expert Driver Solution Association and Sarvodaya Driver Welfare Association have given an ultimatum to the central and state governments to revise prices, failing which they said they would go on an indefinite strike.
Despite Gahlot’s assurance, the auto union refused to back down. “We do not want the fare to be revised or hiked since this will leave us with fewer customers. With an increase in auto fares, green tax, among other taxes will increase. We drivers have already faced huge losses amid the pandemic. Our demand remains the same — subsidy of Rs 35 per kg of CNG,” said Rajendra Soni, president, Delhi Auto Sangh.
He added, “We will continue our protest; there will be a chakka jam from Monday for two days. We also have other demands like scrapping compulsory online classes that every driver has to take during the fitness renewal process, starting offline services at Burari along with online faceless services, reducing penalty for late fitness (test).”
The auto drivers’ union also issued a notice: “Please don’t bring your vehicle outside on April 18 and 19 during the strike as some anti-social elements could damage them. Please stay at home and protest against the CNG price hike and government.”
CNG price was hiked by Rs 2.5 and currently costs Rs 71.61 per kg. This is the third price hike in April and 11th since March 7. Auto fares in Delhi were last revised in 2019 and officially notified in 2020. Currently, auto fare in Delhi is Rs 25 for the first two km and thereafter Rs 8 per km for every additional km.
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