Auto, Taxi fares in Kerala to go up
text_fields
Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has received recommendations for hiking the fares of auto and taxi, in the light of recent hike in fuel prices. As per the recommendation by Justice Ramachandran Nair Commission, the minimum auto fare is to go up from Rs 20 to Rs 30 and of taxi from 150 to 200.
The recommendation is to be submitted to the government on Monday, and is likely to be placed before the cabinet meeteing on Wednesday. It remains to be seen if the government will accept the recommendations as such or with changes.
Currently the minimum auto fare of Rs 20 is good for one and a half kilimeters. When the minimum fare is increased to Rs 30, the per kilometer charge will also be hiked from Rs 10 to Rs 12.
Existing taxi tariff is Rs 150 for the firtst 5 km and this is to be made Rs 200. For every further kilometer there will be an increase of Rs 15.
However, the Commission is not in favour of the demand raised by motor vehicle employees to ban online taxi services, on the grounds that it is not practicable.
Auto and taxi drivers have been preparing for a strike demanding raise in tariff. A meeting of employees' unions held at Thrissthur of unions have reached a consensus on this.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the state's bus owners also on the path of demanding a fare hike.
