Fare hike 'inadequate', govt must rein in app-based cab services: Auto-rickshaw drivers' unions

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Unions of auto-rickshaw drivers in the city termed the AAP government's approval to hike in fares as "inadequate" and asked it to rein in unregulated app-based cab services.

Auto-rickshaw operators will not require any hike in fare if the government gives subsidy on CNG fuel, said Rajender Soni, general secretary of Delhi Auto-rickshaw Sangh.

"Government's fare revision is an inadequate move. It has not done anything on our main demand to check surging number of app-based taxis that have eaten into our passenger base," Soni said.

He said that government should give a subsidy of Rs 15 on CNG fuel, which is currently available at rate of Rs 45 per kg. The Delhi Auto-rickshaw Sangh also demanded a flat rate of Rs 10 per km, but it was not met, Soni said.

"We cannot welcome this move as it will burden people," he said.

The fare hike will further hit the auto-rickshaw drivers who have been facing difficulty in finding passengers due to a large number of app-based taxis on the road, said Kishan Verma, president of All Delhi Auto Taxi Congress Union.

"The Delhi government's approval to fare hike is targeted to gain votes in Lok Sabha polls, and benefit the cab aggregators," Verma charged.

The AAP government Friday approved a hike of Rs 1.50 per km in auto fares.

The government has also approved another recommendation of the fare revision committee on the base fare.

The meter-down charge of Rs 25 for first two kilometres has been revised to Rs 25 for 1.5 kilometres, said Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot.

"The revised rates will be implemented after the Transport Department's notification and recalibration of fare meters. I will write to the department for issuing a notification for implementation of the cabinet decision with immediate effect," Gahlot told reporters.

The existing fare is Rs 8 per km, which was recommended to be raised to Rs 9.5 per km by the fare revision committee. It will be a 18.75-per cent hike in auto fares in the national capital.