Rs 3 hike in auto, taxi fares on the cards for Mumbaikars; AC bus fares may drop | Mumbai News

The Mumbai state transport department announced a proposed Rs 3 increase in base fares for autorickshaws and taxis, pending MMRTA’s final decision.

MUMBAI: The state transport department on Tuesday announced a proposed increase of Rs 3 on the base fare of autorickshaws and taxis in the city. If approved, the revised minimum fare for autorickshaws will increase to Rs 26 from Rs 23, and for taxis to Rs 31 from Rs 28.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA), headed by additional chief secretary (transport) Sanjay Sethi, will determine final fare revisions this week, said sources. The last fare hike for autos and taxis was in Oct 2022.
The transport department has also proposed seven auto stands outside five Metro 3 stations to ensure last-mile connectivity and increase ridership in the first phase of the underground Metro 3 from Aarey to Bandra-Kurla Complex.

There could also be favourable news for Thane residents as there’s a plan to reduce AC bus fares by 35%-50% with base fare proposed to be cut to Rs 10 from Rs 20 for a 2km distance. “The fares are being reduced due to competition from BEST and Navi Mumbai municipal transport, whose minimum AC bus fares are Rs 6 and Rs 10, respectively,” said a transport department official.
MMRTA will also introduce over 30 regular as well as share auto-taxi stands on bustling routes in the eastern and western suburbs, Thane, Kalyan, and Vasai.
While passenger rights activists have opposed the auto-taxi fare hikes citing rising refusal incidents, union leaders said the move was justified and legitimate as per the Khatua committee formula for fare hikes.
The CNG price escalations combined with mounting maintenance and overhead expenses have compelled auto and taxi unions to advocate for fare increases in Mumbai. “Our increment is overdue for over a year as it correlates directly to factors such as escalating fuel costs, inflation, and operational expenses. This aligns with Khatua committee recommendations submitted to the state govt,” said Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union leader Thampy Kurien, who has formulated a comprehensive analysis report demonstrating a Rs 2.6 per km increase in fares, rounded to a Rs 3 per km increment request.
Elaborating their year-long pursuit for a Rs 3 fare rise, A L Quadros from Mumbai Taximen’s Union said: “This request reflects ground realities. Govt must grant increments based on capital costs, escalating maintenance and repair expenses, insurance premiums, cost of living index, fuel amongst other factors.”
But activist Anil Galgali said: “Without service quality improvements, increments are unwarranted. Current fares are reasonably adequate.”