Mangaluru: Various associations of auto drivers and owners on Tuesday, November 17, demanded for a revision in auto-fare while in a meeting with Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim. After hearing the pros and cons, the DC said that a decision will be taken in a week’s time.
Currently, the district administration has fixed the auto fares at Rs 23 for the first 1.5 kilometres and Rs 13 for every kilometre thereafter. Auto drivers are allowed to charge one-and-half-times the normal fare from 10 pm – 5 am.
President of the newly formed Auto Drivers’ Horata Samiti, Yadav Maroli said that the hike in rates of grocery, spare parts of auto-rickshaws and other commodities had been taking a toll on them and hence the hike in auto fare was necessary.
“We earn around Rs 600 per day out of which Rs 200 is supposed to be handed over to the auto owner. Another Rs 200 goes towards fuel. A minimum of Rs 100 should be shelled out for food which we eat in hotels. We are left with only Rs 100 with which we have to manage house rents, run our families and fund our children’s education. Out of 20 spare parts used in an auto-rickshaw, prices of 14 parts have been increased considerably. Moreover, the labour charge has seen a sharp increase,” he said.
The district administration had earlier fixed the rates at Rs 25 for the first 1.5 kilometres and Rs 14 per kilometre thereafter. In the wake of a steep decline in fuel price, the auto fare was brought down to Rs 23 and Rs 13.
The auto drivers are now demanding to restore the earlier 25:14 rate card.
Speaking on behalf of the public, social activist Hanumanth Kamath said that the price rise in daily commodities was not only applicable to the rickshaw drivers but also to the public in general. He said that a hike in auto-rickshaw fare would only add to the woes of the public.
Providing statistics he said that as of June 24, 2008, the petrol price stood at Rs 57.44 and the minimum auto-fare was Rs 13.
Now when the petrol price is Rs 63.81, the auto fare stands at a minimum of Rs 23. Increasing it to Rs 25 would mean a net hike of Rs 12 per fare, which would be unfair.
He complained that over 600 out of around 6,000 auto-rickshaws in the city limits were still charging a minimum of Rs 25 and that complaints lodged with the police did not evoke any response.
Another activist BK Imtiaz asked for amendments in the colour coding in auto-rickshaws so as to differentiate between the autos allowed to be run in the city limits and outskirts.
The DC directed the Road Transport Authority official to furnish adequate details for reference so that a decision could be taken.
District Superintendent of Police Sharanappa was present.
