'Decision on auto fare revision in a week'

Deputy Commissioner asks drivers to submit report on impact of price rice on them

With the auto drivers pressing for revision of auto fares, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that the final decision will be taken within a week.

Chairing RTA meeting convened at his office on Tuesday to discuss revision of auto fares in Dakshina Kannada district, the officer, who is also chairman of RTA, asked the auto drivers to submit a report ­– with facts and figures – on how the rise in price of essential commodities, petrol, LPG and spare parts has affected them, for the RTA to come to a conclusion on revision of fares. The RTA will take a final call within a week, he added.

Pressing for their demand for revision of fares, the auto drivers had resorted to 24-hour strike on November 10. The auto drivers claimed that the existing fares were not sufficient to meet the increasing cost of life.

Auto drivers’ association leader Ashok Shetty said that the Dakshina Kannada RTA had reduced the minimum fare from Rs 25 to Rs 23 (for 1.5 km) and the kilometre fare from Rs 14 to Rs 13, following the reduction in the price of fuel on March 1. The price of spare parts has been increased drastically. There has been an increase in the price of essential commodities in the last few months. The revision of fare is justified in the backdrop of increase in price of all essential commodities.

Autorickshaw Horata Samithi President Yadav Maroli said, “We work for eight hours in a day. In spite of earning Rs 600 per day, the escalating price of essential commodities have affected us badly. With a meagre earning how can we lead a decent living?” he asked.

CPM Leader Sunil Kumar Bajal said that the fluctuating price of fuel should be considered while revising the fare. The price of spare parts have been increased by five per cent. The labour cost incurred for fitting the spare parts has also increased. The auto drivers do not have any welfare board and social security schemes. Their livelihood is dependent wholly on their earnings.

DYFI leader Imthiyaz said that the RTO should initiate action against auto drivers who charge exorbitantly from the consumers for travelling outskirts of the city. Citing an example, he said that auto drivers charge Rs 80 for travelling from Kuloor to Panambur. The RTO should initiate action against such auto drivers.

Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi President Hanumantha Kamath said that the rise in price of essential commodities have affected all the middle class and poor people. In such a scenario, the auto fare should not be revised.