After substantial hike in the auto and taxi fare in May, traveling in radio cab in the Capital is going to be costly too, as the Delhi Government is set to increase the charges of radio taxi by 15 per cent.
However, economy radio taxi fare will increase by 25 per cent. The revised rate for the radio taxi would be `23 per kilometre (km) while the fare for economy radio taxi will be `12.50 per km. At present the fare of the radio taxi is `20 per kilometre and one has to pay `10 per kilometre for traveling in economy radio taxi.
Department of Transport of the Delhi Government has also decided to introduce ‘waiting charges’ for the first time and `30 per hour will be charged by both radio as well as economy taxis. The new rates will be effective from next week.
last time, the fare was revised three years back in 2010. The Delhi transport department may issue an order regarding the fare hike on Friday. The decision to increase the taxi fare has created flutter amongst commuters who feel that it will be an extra burden for them if the taxi fares are increased.
While justifying the fare increase, senior officials of the Transport Department said that after in-depth consideration of the recommendations of the committee (on review of fare hike), it was decided to allow hike in taxi fare. “The transport department had set up a committee headed by the Additional Commissioner (Transport) which went into various aspects including the rising cost of fuel, maintenance before recommending a fare hike. The committee recommended a reasonable hike in the rates. It has also taken into consideration the prevailing rates in other Metro cities,” an official said.
Delhi Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami said, “We hope that such a fare hike will help end harassment of commuters by taxi drivers who refused to go by the meter due to the low fare structure. We will also ensure more stringent enforcement in this regard.”