Auto-rickshaw, taxi drivers apprehensive about fare hike

Everyone loves a raise in their earnings. But for once the auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are apprehensive about the fare hike that will be implemented from March 1. In the last couple of days there have been meetings between the unions and the drivers where the latter have raised their concerns.

Due to the pandemic, people have lost jobs, livelihood and their earnings have halved. “Already the drivers are complaining about lesser earnings in the past few weeks since lockdown has been eased. Now with the fare hike, many have informed us about how it would further hurt their earnings,” said KK Tiwari, auto rickshaw union leader who has held few meetings with drivers ever since the hike was announced.

At the meetings, the drivers told the union that people were still concerned about travelling long distance in autos and cabs. And people are using these autos and taxis to ply only till railway stations. In fact outside few stations, the share auto stands have also lowered their fares by Rs 23. In the decision taken, the

Transport department has also increased the base fare in share-autos and taxis from Rs 8 to Rs 9.

“We fear that people will not travel in autos as there has been a hike of Rs 3 and even gradual kilometers too. Already, our daily earnings have dropped from average of Rs 800-1000 to Rs 300-400 after deducting expenses. A hike will mean that people will avoid taking autos and taxis,” said Dinesh Singh, an auto driver from Santacruz.

Even public bodies like the Mumbai Grahak Panchayat want the government to defer this fare hike that has taken place after June 2015. They have written a letter to the state Transport minister as well.