Chaos marks RTA meet over autorickshaw fares

Decision on revision deferred without consensus

Regional Transport Authority meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner at his office, in Mangaluru, on Thursday, towards revision of autorickshaw fare in the wake of decrease in petrol, diesel and LPG prices, was driven by chaos.

At several moments, for and against arguments, between people-pro organisation representatives and autorickshaw drivers, resulted in war of words. After the meet, the Deputy Commissioner said decision on the revision of autorickshaw fare will be announced soon.

At the meet, autorickshaw drivers sought retention of minimum fare of Rs 25 and Rs 13 per km. They claimed the fare of other modes of public transport like buses, has not been brought down. KSRTC has not decreased bus fare, even after fall in diesel prices. Why target auto rickshaw fares, they questioned.

CITU leader Sunil Bajal said that the fare of other commodities such as food, rent and others have not been decreased. Autorickshaw drivers incur lot of expenses including the investment on the autorickshaw and its maintenance.

The expenses come up to Rs 17 per km. Moreover, autorickshaw drivers are from unorganised sector and are not salaried employees. The price hike in daily commodities have hit them as well.  Hence, the minimum fair of Rs 25 would be scientific.

When Advocate and Forum for Justice President Dayanath Kotiyan said the meeting was not meant to discuss the fare of food items, bus fare and difficulties of working class but autorickshaw fares alone, the drivers and associations supporting them, opposed his remark en masse resulting in chaos. Dayanath, meanwhile, maintained that minimum fare should be revised to Rs 20, which is based only on the reduction in fuel prices and nothing else.

Alexander from Forum for Justice said though accurate revision of fare at previous instance was Rs 23, it was rounded up to Rs 25, owing to change making problem of coins. In fact, the fare will be decreased only to three rupees if it is brought down to Rs 20 and hence there will be no loss.

The heated up atmosphere turned normal when Superintendent of Police Dr D Sharanappa requested them to follow discipline and present their opinions in an acceptable fashion.

Secret ballet
Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi President Hanumantha Kamath alleged that though 75 per cent of autorickshaw drivers are ready for decrease in fares, office bearers of autorickshaw drivers’ association were adamant and egoistic. They have been deliberately disobedient to district administration and not allowing others to follow previous order towards decrease in the fare. Kamath meanwhile requested the DC to conduct a secret ballet to gather the collective opinion of autorickshaw drivers.
He further said after calibration of previous instances of decrease in fuel rates, petrol price has been decreased by Rs 16.64, diesel by Rs 13.7 and LPG by Rs 44.2, as on Thursday.  Ninety per cent of autorickshaws use LPG. The fuel prices have come down considerably. Hence, minimum fare should be fixed at Rs 20 and additional fare per km Rs 13.

Autorickshaw driver Francis said calculation of operating cost by the district administration is unscientific and real expenses are more than projected one.
Briefing reporters, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said some have been claiming that autorickshaw fare was not revised in Udupi. But, in fact, RTA meet is to be held shortly towards the same. The DC said DK district administration will launch a SMS based service and toll free number for public towards grievance redressal regarding autorickshaw service. The district administration has already calculated the operating cost per kilometer for autorickshaw and the just fare will be fixed after thorough observation.