Auto unions stand firm on fare hike

Following the petrol and diesel hike that came into force from Friday midnight,autorickshaw unions in the city have demanded an immediate hike in rickshaw fares.

Following the petrol and diesel hike that came into force from Friday midnight,autorickshaw unions in the city have demanded an immediate hike in rickshaw fares. According to them,with petrol costing Rs 51.56 after the increase,the autorickshaw drivers stand to lose Rs 27 for every Rs 100 earned.

We are going to hold a meeting soon and take a decision regarding the line of action we need to take to press for our demand. Our demand of fare hike has been long pending now. Despite the promise to do so,the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has not taken a decision in this regard so far. Therefore,it is time,the RTA and ministers consider our demand,else we will have to launch an agitation, Baba Adhav,president of Rickshaw Panchayat,said.

Another organisation said had the RTA increased the autorickshaw fares last month,they would not have demanded such an immediate hike now. But now,they have no option,added the organisations office bearers.

This time we are not going to remain silent. In addition to the overall inflation,the government has burdened us with fuel hike as well. People cannot expect us to carry on with the services with the old rates, Nana Kshirsagar of Maharashtra Rickshaw Sena said.

He said the members of Maharashtra Rickshaw Sena are going to meet RTA chairman Dilip Band regarding the fare hike. Vijay Maratkar,Shiv Sena corporator and president of Shiv Sena Pune City Rickshaw Organisation,said considering the substantial increase in petrol prices,the autorickshaw fare hike was a must.

No change in PMPML bus fare rates

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) chairman and managing director Dilip Band made it clear on Saturday that there would not be any bus fare hike in the near future. The announcement was made at his welcome function organised at the PMPML headquarters in Swargate where he also said the PMPML has run into losses to the tune of Rs 70 crore.

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auto unions