Mumbai: Auto, Taxi Unions Press For Minimum Fare Price Hike

Taxi and rickshaw unions in the city are once again calling for minimum fare price hikes, citing Khatua committee recommendations. The unions believe that the current minimum taxi cost of INR 28 and rickshaw fare of INR 23 are insufficient.

AL Quadros, leader of a prominent taxi union, said, “We are going to write to the officials concerned on Monday.” Similarly, a rickshaw union leader called for a rise in the minimum auto rickshaw charge in the suburbs from INR 23 to INR 25.

The autorickshaw union, displeased with the INR 2 rate hike from INR 21 to INR 23 in October 2022, has computed an additional INR 2 using the Khatua committee’s formula. A union leader stated that the previous boost was insufficient to address mounting expenses, driving the demand for another increase.

Any fare hike suggestion must first go via the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA), which is presided over by the transport secretary. When deciding fare adjustments, the authority takes into account elements such as the consumer price index, vehicle capital expenses, maintenance and repair costs, insurance, and taxes.

In October 2022, MMRTA approved a rate increase of INR 2 for auto rickshaws and INR 3 for taxis, raising the minimum fares to INR 23 for rickshaws and INR 28 for kaali-peeli taxis. The latest demands of the unions want a rise in minimum fares to INR 32 for taxis and INR 25 for auto rickshaws.