Eight autorickshaw union representatives who met Minister for Transport R Ashok on Monday here, agreed to abide by the decision of the government on implementation of Rs 17 as minimum fare and Rs 9 as per km fare thereafter.
With the final revision in place, minimum auto fares in the City, continues to among the highest in the country, with the national capital leading the fare with Rs 20 as minimum. Autos in New Delhi and Mumbai run on Compressed Natural Gas or CNG, while those in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad use Liquified Petroleum Gas or LPG fuel.
Both are labelled as green fuel and seen to be more environment friendly than petrol-run engines. A new four-stroke auto is expected to give a mileage of about 25 kms to a litre/kg of LPG or CNG.
Satisfied by the intervention of the minister, auto unions have called off/withdrawn the decision to go on an indefinite strike from August 1, in protest against the earlier directive of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to implement Rs 17 as minimum fare.
The unions had, opposed this and sought Rs 20 as minimum fare and Rs 10 as per km fare, citing increase in essential commodities, auto spares, food items, maintaining family, education of children and cost of living in Bangalore.
A report on fare revision prepared by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East) had taken into consideration these parameters, before it was submitted to the DC.
Representatives from a group of eight auto unions who had sought the intervention of the minister finally agreed to his directive, after a three hour long discussion.
Intervention
H G Srinivasa Murthy, working president of the Autorickshaw Drivers Union, a CITU affiliated body said it has welcomed the intervention of R Ashok.
“We are thankful to transport minister. We have also expressed our views on the three-piece windshield norm of the Transport Department. Autounions are seeking FC to be issued for autos without single windshield” said Murthy.
Auto unions have meanwhile, called a meeting with owners of meter recaliberation workshops and mechanics on Thursday, to direct them not to oblige with requests from automen to tamper meters.
DH News Service
