Ahmedabad: An association representing rickshaw drivers in Ahmedabad is seeking to increase the fare of meter-based autos in the city, a move that will harm the daily commute of hundreds.
In the memorandum submitted by the Ahmedabad Rickshaw Chalak Ekta Union to the minister and commissioner of transport on October 20, the group has sought not only a rise in the basic fare of auto-rickshaws, but also the per kilometre fare to be legally paid by customers.
Citing the reason for the rapidly rising cost of CNG used to run their vehicles, the union sought that the minimum fare with which the ride begins, be increased from the current Rs 15 to somewhere between Rs 20 and Rs 25.
They further sought that the running fare be increased from Rs 10 per kilometre to Rs 15 per kilometre.
Notably, the price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) used in most modern auto-rickshaws has increased by Rs 6.13 per litre between October 2 and 18 this year.
The memorandum seeks an additional Re 1 as waiting charge for every minute, as well as an increase in maximum luggage load from the current 60 kg to 100 kg.
Harking back to the days when PM Narendra Modi was CM of Gujarat, the union stated that he had formed the Rate Committee which met in April each year to revise auto-rickshaw metre rates. “However, this committee has become defunct in the last five years and no decision has been taken by them to revise the rates,” said the memorandum.
To make their point, the union also pointed out that from 2015 to 2021, the cost of a new auto-rickshaw had risen from Rs 1.45 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh. However, the fare had not been increased, leading to a severe impact on the poor and lower middle class rickshaw drivers.
Rise in CNG prices in Ahmedabad
Date. Price. Increase Total
Rs Rs Rs
Oct 2 56.86 2.56 58.86
Oct 6 58.86 1.00 59.86
Oct 11 59.86 1.63 61.49
Oct 18 61.49 1.50 62.99