Autorickshaw,taxi unions call off stir for now

The Hakim committee recommended a steep Rs 3 hike in minimum fare for the first 1.5 km for autos and taxis. For autos,the committee arrived at a basic fare per kilometre of Rs 10.15,while for taxis,the basic fare per kilometre was calculated at Rs 13.08.

The union leaders met Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday and Transport Commissioner V N More on Tuesday.

“The deputy chief minister requested us to avoid any protest as far as possible. He has spoken to the transport commissioner and requested him to expedite the matter. More has also assured us that the state government will make a decision based on the report as soon as possible,” said Shashank Rao of the Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union.

“We haven’t given them any deadline to implement the report. We will wait for the government to take a call now as they have assured us it will be done at the earliest,” he said.

Similarly,the Mumbai Taximen’s Union,which was contemplating joining the protest on Thursday,has also decided to defer their agitation.

“We will give the state government time to take a decision on the report till September 30. If that does not happen,we will resort to strict measures from October 1,” said Anthony Quadros of the Mumbai Taximen’s Union.

In April,the state government had decided to form a one-man committee under Hakim to devise fresh formulae for the calculation of fares for taxis and autos running on petrol,CNG and LPG.

Until now,the fare for autos and taxis was being fixed using one formula,which was drawn as per the recommendations of the Hakim committee in 1996.