Auto drivers step up fare hike demand

Nitin Pawar,convenor,Rickshaw Panchayat,said,”The Hakim Committee formula used to calculate the maintenance expenses consider the price of purchase of an autorickshaw to be one lakh rupees,but in Pune,we end up paying Rs 1.25-1.50 lakh. The prices need to be Pune specific. Even the formula used is based on the taxi meters used in Mumbai so autorickshaw owners always bear the losses. Also when calculating the fare hike,they take into account only the increase in petrol prices. The increase in oil prices is not taken into account.”

At present,rickshaw fares are Rs 11 for the first one kilometre and nine rupees for every kilometre after that. Autorickshaws panchayats of the city written to the Regional Transport Office (RTO),demanding an increase by Rs 2 per kilometre.

Arun Yeola,RTO,Pune,said,“We have received their demands and the proposal is under consideration. We need the permission of the Election Commission for taking any decision on hikes now due to the model code of conduct.”

“While the authorities are prompt in taking action against us if we’re found to have faulty meters,when we demand a hike,we have to struggle for months despite the petrol prices rising several times a year. Our licences are suspended and we’re fined up to Rs 1,000 each time the meter turns out to be faulty,” said an auto driver.