Mumbai commuters to pay more as auto, cab minimum fares rise from September 1

Representation pic/iStock

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month goes the saying, but this first brings a pinch in the pocket and a punch to the commuters gut. From today, September 1, commuters will pay Rs 27 as the minimum auto rickshaw fare, up by Rs 1 from Rs 26, and Rs 33 for minimum cab fare, up by R2 from Rs 31.

Representation pic/iStock

[popcorn number="Rs 35" desc="New minimum cab fare" class="Default"]

[popcorn number="Rs 27" desc="New minimum autorickshaw fare" class="Default"]

‘Hike not enough'

Shashank Rao, Mumbai Autorickshaw Taximen's Union
‘We actually needed a R3 fare hike for the minimum distance for both cabs and autorickshaws. Drivers too need to be kept in mind because of inflation. That is why this fare hike is not enough'.

Addressing commuter concerns

Rao analysed that in Pune too, people pay more for minimum fare in autorickshaws, while, "Mumbai is the most expensive city," he explained. Asked about commuter concerns like change not being returned or not plying as per meter at times and refusals, Rao said these are specific complaints that can be tackled through a different mechanism, but that does not mean "there should not be a fare hike".

Change range

Anand Shirali, Andheri resident
‘I am absolutely fine given that the price rise is happening after quite a while. Any which way, many auto drivers feign not to have change or online payment and keep R30 without offering R4 change in return! New minimum tariff of R27? Well… fine.'

‘Khaali peeli'

Haresh Bafna Kurla resident
We must get rise-wise, thought Kurla resident Haresh Bafna, who has an interesting take on ‘kaali peeli' - the Mumbai name for cabs. Bafna said, ‘This increase in ‘kaali-peeli' fares is not just khaali-peeli. It is justifiable owing to the plight they are going through. On certain routes in South Mumbai, they would get a lot of commuters, but it may not be so now because of cab aggregators which have entered our commuting landscape. Then, even the advent of the Metro may have affected them. Looking at this through that lens, it may be fair enough.'

‘Transparency please'

Hirak Shah, Vile Parle dietician
Vile Parle dietician Hirak Shah gives us some food for thought. Shah, who is also a yoga instructor, said, ‘I think fares should be reviewed periodically. Yet, the basis for any revision must be clearly communicated. A transparent system would help both drivers and commuters understand how fares are determined, rather than viewing every hike simply as an increase in cost.'

‘Maintain them'

Pervez Cooper, Colaba activist
‘This cab fare hike is not at all justified. Firstly, cabbies must maintain their cabs and also ensure the vehicles are clean. Perhaps the biggest bugbear is the refusal to ply. They refuse customers left, right and centre, and many of them do not return the change. Hikes must be matched by good service and taxis maintained as per international standards.'