Now, Mumbaikars will have to pay Rs 28 instead of Rs 25 as the minimum fare for travelling in iconic kali peeli taxis, and Rs 23 in place of Rs 21 for autos. Finally, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) has considered the long-pending demand of fare hike by taxi and auto unions.
The fares revised by Rs 3 for taxi and Rs 2 for autos will come into effect from October
“Beyond minimum fare, passengers will have to pay Rs 18.66 per km instead of Rs 16.93 for taxis and Rs 15.33 per km instead of 14.20 for autos,” said the state transport department official.
Similarly, the minimum fare of blue-silver taxis aka cool cabs has been hiked to Rs 40 per km from Rs 33 per km. Thereafter, the per km fare of these cabs will be Rs 26.71.
“Earlier, taxi and auto fares were revised on March 1, 2021. That time the price of CNG was Rs 49.40 per kg, which has now gone up to Rs 80 per kg,” said the official, adding that the CNG prices have shot up by more than Rs 30 per kg in the last 18 months.
The MMRTA has given two months time (between October 1 to November 30) to the drivers and owners for the recalibration of fare metres.
The decision to hike the fares was taken on Monday in the MMRTA meeting chaired by the Maharashtra transport secretary. But it was announced only after the minutes of the meeting were signed on Tuesday.
The new rates will be applicable for petrol as well as CNG-operated taxis and autos in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as well.
The existing fare for around 60,000 taxis and nearly five lakh autos in the MMR has been in force since March 1, 2021. Back the, CNG price was Rs 49.40 per kg. Currently, the gas costs Rs 80.
The decision was hailed by the leaders of taxi and auto unions who have time and again demanded the hike, while giving strike calls in the past.
