With the prices of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) getting slashed in Delhi by 30 per cent, lakhs of autorickshaw and taxi commuters in the national Capital have demanded cut in the fares. A sharp price cut of Rs 15 per kg offers the commuters on the CNG propelled public transport system prospects of economic transport system.
A steep fare hike of 25 per cent in auto and taxi fares was effected in May last year when the price of the gas fuel was merely around Rs 40 per kg. However, Delhi Government refrained to make any promises on the reduction of auto or taxi fares after the announcement of reduction of gas price.
“The Government should now reduce the auto fares, which are so steep that they burn a hole in the pocket of daily commuters. Due to the base price of Rs 25 and Rs 8 for subsequent kilometres, a distance of over 10 km now costs around Rs 120, which earlier was Rs 75-Rs 80,” whined Neha Tandon, who travels from Green Park to Connaught Place daily.
“We will consider the possibility of fare reduction. However, the government cannot promise reduction in fares as it was twice that the prices of clean fuel spiraled but the fares remained the same,” said Transport Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj. He added that the Centre decided to slash the prices as the Aam Aadmi Party-led Government moved to the apex court demanding the reduction of CNG prices.
The CNG prices had been revised twice recently, once in September last year by Rs 3.70 per kg and then again in December by a steep hike of Rs 4.50 per kg bringing up the price of the clean fuel to Rs 50.10 per kg.
The auto unions welcomed the Centre’s move to slash CNG prices, even though they felt that it was one of the planks for the upcoming lok Sabha polls.
“We welcome the reduction in the CNG prices, even though it seems the Centre’s hurried move before the upcoming elections. However, we will strongly oppose any reduction in auto fares as the fares remained stagnant even though the prices of the clean fuel went swiftly up from Rs 21.90 in 2010 to Rs 40 per kg. It was only when the prices crossed Rs 40 per kg, the fares were increased,” said Rajender Soni of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.