Please defer fare hike by another six months, urges consumer body of Mumbai

The government has announced a hike of Rs 2 for stages beyond the base fare

The fare hikes for autos and taxis announced by the government will burden average Mumbaikars who are already reeling under the COVID pandemic, said the Mumbai Grahak Panchayat as it urged the state to defer the decision by six months.

"We agree to the fact that a hike in fares of autos and taxis was due since it has not been given for a period of over five years. But given the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent lockdown and its effects on the economy, loss of jobs and the paying power of consumers, the hike seems to be ill-timed and exhaustive," said Shirish Deshpande of the leading consumer rights organisation.

The fare hike is about Rs 3 in the first stage of fares and a rise of Rs 2 in subsequent stages. "The overall spike in fare will be quite large and people at present do not have that kind of money. It may, in fact, adversely affect the businesses of taxis and autos and even the trade unions, realizing this, had initially refused the hike," he added.

Deshpande said they have written to the government to push the implementation by six months, hoping the economy will be back on track by then. The right body has also suggested spreading the hike over two years. "For example, a hike of Rs 1 in the base fare and 75 paise in the subsequent fare and the rest next year. Another option is to increase just the base fare by Rs 2 and keep the subsequent stage fares constant for now," he said.

"We have shot off an appeal to the Maharashtra transport minister Anil Parab and suggested these measures," he added. Transport department officials said that the fare hike had already been notified and a new tariff card would be released soon. "The hike was due for quite some time and has been given as per a formula set by a government-appointed committee," the official added.