The revision in fares of auto rickshaws and taxis has prompted the radio cab operators in the city to demand a fare hike. Citing 55-60 per cent jump in the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) prices in the last three years and the increase in living cost for the drivers, the radio taxi operators have demanded a 15 per cent hike in the fares. Radio taxis have become safe modes of travel, especially for the women commuters during the night hours.
“looking at the rising costs, we have demanded a 15 per cent fare hike in the fares of radio taxis in the city. According to this nominal increase, the commuters will be charged Rs 23 per km as against Rs 20 per km at present. The night charges levied will be 25 per cent extra,” said Siddhartha Pahwa, Secretary, radio taxi association. The fare hike demanded is justified and is in sync with the rising market costs, he added.
He added that the association has also demanded the government to come up with a transparent mechanism for deciding the fare hike, keeping the market conditions in mind. “A fare revision mechanism will ensure that there is no ambiguity in revising the fares and both the consumers and the industry can have a win-win situation. The fare hike should b indexed to the four important parameters in working out a fare structure - cost of the vehicle, repair cost of the vehicle, fuel cost and the driver’s earning - to come up with a fair model,” added Pahwa.