With the minimum auto fare going up to Rs 25, commuters in the City will be spoilt for a choice between a taxi and an autorickshaw. For even a non-AC taxi in the City plies at as low as Rs 9 per kilometre.
Though the taxi owners associations are divided on whether to ask for a hike on minimum fares of taxis after the auto fare hike, all of them agree on adopting a wait-and-watch policy for now. The City has at least half a dozen taxi owners associations besides the big players including corporate taxis and Radio Cabs.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, an office-bearer of the Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association (BTTOA) said: “The business, as it is not doing too well and this being the festival season with Christmas around the corner, we would not contemplate asking for a hike immediately. We will wait till January to see the effect of hike in auto fare.”
Another member from the Taxi Drivers Association said: “It is the most obvious step after an auto fare hike to ask for a hike in taxi fares as well. But as it is, most of the taxi operators are not following the fare decided by the RTOs except a few big players. The best in this scenario is to wait and watch for at least a month before a decision is taken on whether to ask for a hike,” he said on condition of anonymity.
While Spot City taxi is charging Rs 210 for first ten kilometres followed by Rs 14.50 for subsequent kilometres, Meru Cabs charge Rs 80 for first four kilometres followed by Rs 19.50 for subsequent kilometres, there are other private taxi players who charge Rs 12-16 per kilometre for AC cabs.