More value added to fare chart

Auto charge

Outdated fare charts ensured that the commuters lost faith in the system. But this time, the new pre-fixed auto stands that have been reintroduced on MG Road and Commercial Street and those that will soon come up at other places such as Forum Mall, Garuda Mall and Kempe Gowda bus stand have updated fare charts approved by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).

The fares from these stands have been fixed only after the distance from each pre-fixed counter to different parts of the City has been measured. “It is only after a thorough exercise that the fares have been fixed. Some fares have changed and there is a Rs 5 or Rs 10 increase in fares compared with the previous chart,” says M A Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Safety).

He further points out that for the first two kilometres, the fare is Rs 17 and further, for every increase in kilometre, the fare is Rs 9 per kilometre. Saleem says the traffic police will ensure that autos will be available at these stands and oblige the commuters.

“The idea is to encourage people to use public transport. This would reduce the number of vehicles on the road,” observes Saleem. He avers that he will also take the responsibility to ensure that the display cards in the autos will match the driver at the wheel.

“If an auto is driven by more than one person, the new driver, who takes over, will have to display his card. The offender will be charged a fine of Rs 2000,” he informs.

A senior official with the RTA said the pre-fixed system was useful. “While the distance of places from the pre-fixed auto stands at railway stations and bus stands have been measured and the fares fixed accordingly, it is only now that the distance from new pre-fixed counters were measured and fares fixed.

This adds weightage to the fare chart,” says the official. A few people believe that pre-fixed counters fleece passengers but a few others find pre-fixed autos useful, especially at night. Tulsi, an advertising professional, points out that pre-fixed stands are useless. She reasons that they don’t come to the place where you want to be dropped and secondly, the charges are much higher than the normal auto fare.

“I find the pre-fixed stand on MG Road useless. They don’t come short distances and even if they come, they charge more. The cops are hand-in-glove with them in this regard,” she says. Shubha Chacko, a social worker, welcomes the re-introduction of pre-paid stands. “I regularly use autorickshaws. These booths are useful especially during peak hours and at night. I was one of those who saw auto drivers as guys who exploit us whenever they get a chance and demand exorbitant fares. The pre-fixed stand has made some difference in this regard,” she sums up. 

Pre-fixed auto counter - MG Road

Place    Kms    Amount

Adugodi    6      53
Ashok Nagar    4       35
Ambedkar Engg College    16.4    147
Banashankari 3rd Stage        12    107
Byappanahalli    9       80
Chamarajpet    7       62
Cantonment    5       44
Domlur    6       53
Esteem Mall       12    107
Gandhi Bazaar          8       71
HRBR Layout        11       98
Horamavu        12    107
Jayadeva Hospital           9       80
Jayanagar 4th Block           8       71
Koramangala 1st Block          9       80
Madiwala        10       89
Malleswaram Circle          6       53
Nagawara        12    107
Whitefield        25    224
Wilson Garden          6      53
Yeshwantpur Circle        10       89


Rates from Commerical Street

Place    Kms    Amount

Adugodi     7                     62
Ashok Nagar          4       35
Banashankari 3rd Stage        14    125
Byappanahalli          7       62
Basavanagudi           8       71
Domlur          6       53
Diamond District           7        62
Electronic City entrance       22    197
HBR Layout        10       89
ITC Factory          7       62
JC Road           6       53
Jayanagar 4th Block          8       71
Jayanagar East End           9       80
Kodihalli          7       62
Laggere        15    134
Sadashiva Nagar                              6.5       58
Sanjay Gandhi Hospital           8        71
Vijayanagar Maruti Mandir      12.5    112
Vidyaranyapura        19    170
Whitefield        23    206
Yelahanka New Town        22    197