The Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union has threatened to go on an indefinite strike from February 1, if the government does not revise the auto fare to a minimum of Rs 15 and per kilometre to Rs 7.50.
The union has served an ultimatum to the government to resolve the issue of fares within the next seven days.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Union president M Manjunath said, while the rate of auto LPG has been increasing every month, the government was looking the other way. Autorickshaw drivers were forced to bear the excess amount of Rs 50 to Rs 60.
Justifying their demand for the fare revision, he said the drivers were paying more than Rs 40 for LPG and oil.
He has also asked the Weights and Measures department to initiate action against LPG dispensing bunks.
“Though we purchase LPG from Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum, the bunks collect charges for 15-16 litres of gas, while the gas tank fitted in autos can accommodate only 12 litres,” he alleged.
Not confirmed
The Adarsha Union claims to have a membership of more than 12,000 auto-drivers. The other major autodrivers’ union, the Autorickshaw Drivers Union, affiliated to CITU has however, not confirmed its participation in the strike. RTA to meet today
The Regional Transport Authority and the Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban will meet on Thursday, January 17, to consider the issue/demands of automen for a upward revision in minimum auto fares.
REVISION OF AUTO FARE
Autorickshaw fares were last revised based on the prices of petrol in the City, with effect from October 29, 2002, when the prices of petrol reached Rs 38 per litre.
Later the government, in consultation with the Regional Transport Authority (RTA-Bangalore Urban), use of LPG as fuel was made mandatory for auto-rickshaws instead of petrol to reduce vehicular pollution. Subsequently, various auto unions had represented for an increase in fares citing additional expenditure incurred to install LPG kits.
The RTA discussed these aspects with unions on December 13, 2005 and resolved to constitute a committee to study the demands of the unions and submit a report to consider revision in fares.
The committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) submitted its report on January 31, 2006, recommending a marginal increase in fares.
The RTA subsequently revised auto fares to the minimum of Rs 12 with effect from March 15, 2006 subject to the condition that the next revision would be considered only after the price of auto LPG was increased above Rs 40/litre.
Highlights
*Revise minimum fare to Rs 15
*Fare per km should be Rs 7.50
*Union claims it has over 12,000
autodrivers as members
*CITU has not confirmed
participation
*RTA to meet today
Any ways Auto drivers have an habit of taking more than the metered fare by demanding more or by tampering the meter. The Increase of fare should not be accepted as the exisinf fare itself account for Fuel upto Rs 40 a litre.
by George Kallath on 1/17/2008 5:27:21 AM
I was really amused by the request by Mr. Manjunath to the Weights and Measures department and his assertion that the pumps are charging for more gas than that can be held in the vehicle's tank!
A classic case of the pot calling the kettle black! Well Mr. Manjunath, your union members almost always charge me much more than the distance that can be "fit" between my residential area and brigade road!
by kiran on 1/17/2008 4:18:17 AM
No, fares should not be increased, as most of the auto fares demand more than the metre shows. They are not sincere. Night after 830 PM itself, they demand one and a half, sometimes even double. They don't deserve it.
by Srinivas on 1/17/2008 3:49:42 AM
It it is not the fare that should be looked at the end, it should be a common remedy for everyone for a commuter to an auto driver, since whenever there is an hike in the petrol price there is an raise in auto fares.
by ravi on 1/17/2008 12:52:58 AM
i would like to ask one question , what is the need for steep increase in fare.
example:
an auto driver puts 6 lit of petrol per day is rs 330, he can travel 150 to 180 kms,that means with new rates can make Rs 1500 to 1800
even in present rarte he can make 1500,
take his expense ,
petrol rs 330
owner rs 100
others rs 70
total rs 500
that means he can make rs 1000
even in worst situation rs 700
ie empty trips
then there is no justification increase in fair,
auto men
by Mohan on 1/17/2008 12:14:38 AM
Hi,
I completely agree with my fello citizens that Auto drivers are the worst menace in Bangalore. Its becoming very rare to find a honest and a rule bound driver and hay are helped by the so called organisations which are hell bent on protecting the culture of Kannada even though they do not know what is the essence of Kannada culture.
Its high time the government takes some concrete steps to put dpwn this nuisance
As it is the auto wallas never helps passengers. They like to park their autos in the corner of the street and chat with other drivers read newspaper. As them for a drop they say sorry sir/madam I dont get a return passenger. For everything they have an execuse. The government must not help these idiot auto drivers.
