An auto ride may be the last thing on the minds of commuters who have to put up with the usual ordeal of faulty meters, haggling and moody drivers.
However, that very ride has now become dearer, making things worse.
The rise in minimum fare of autorickshaw from December 20, has not only left many baffled, but is sure to burn a hole in their pockets.
Keerthana N, an employee of an audit firm said: “I work in UB City. So the moment they hear the name, auto drivers quote exorbitant rates. In fact, why can’t the government and the drivers think of an auto-sharing system which is prevalent in other cities.”
Pooja V Nayak, a student from IIT Mumbai said, “The auto drivers always demand double or one-and-half times the meter rate, be it day or night. They jump at the opportunity when they get to know that a person is not from the City or does not know the route. So it does not matter even if the meter rate is increased. They can keep increasing the rate according their whims and fancies.”
Rhea Ahuja, a student of Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, said: “I normally take an auto after 9 pm or 9.30 pm. So the drivers always quote more than the meter. But now with Rs 25 as minimum fare it is a major problem, especially for those commuting long distances.”
Pavan Singh, a software developer said this would definitely create a big hole in his pocket. “We had slowly got used to the minimum fare of Rs 20. Though we will gradually get used to Rs 25 also, we will continue to pay the highest minimum fare in the country.”
A N Jagadish, a 57- year-old entrepreneur, said it would be better if shared autos were available in Bangalore like in other cities especially in North India.
Bhavana Mahtari, a proprietor, said the rise in fare would not matter much because the commuter anyway paid a lot of money.
Lakshmikanth K, an account executive, said, “It is long since I have travelled by an autorickshaw. And looking at the way the rates are escalating I would prefer to travel by bus or walk.”
Rajan M, a brand manager in a private firm, said, “Since the cost of LPG and other fuels has increased, the auto fares too have gone up. So people will travel less by autos, unless it is an emergency. They will depend more on buses. Now, the government should focus on increasing buses and completing Metro at the earliest so that people are not financially burdened.”DH News Service