Delhi auto-rickshaw fares hiked by 18%, new tariffs effective from Tuesday

Delhi commuters travelling in auto-rickshaws will have to pay more for rides now, as the state transport authority has issued a notification on Monday effecting an 18.75-per cent increase in existing auto fares. The hike has come just a few months before the Delhi Assembly election. The move is expected to impact owners and drivers of over 90,000 auto-rickshaws plying in the city. 

"It is for the information of general public and Auto Rickshaw operators that with immediate effect, the revised fare for Auto Rickshaw in the National Capital Territory of Delhi are as under..." the STA said in its notification, listing the revised fares. 

According to the notification issued on Monday, the metre down charge will be Rs 25 for the first 1.5 km, instead of existing 2 km.

The fare for per km charge has been hiked from current Rs 8 to Rs 9.5, which is an increase of around 18.75 per cent.  An official said that fare meters of auto-rickshaw will be re-calibrated to calculate the new fare and it will take around 1.5 months to do so, while till then they will charge the fare as per the new fare structure, issued by the govt. 

Last week, the Delhi transport department had also issued a separate notification on the new fare structure of auto-rickshaws in the national capital. The government also introduced waiting charge at the rate of Rs 0.75 per minute if an auto is caught up at a traffic signal. Luggage charges will be Rs 7.50. 

The decision was delayed after officials objected to it saying that the Lieutenant Governor's approval was needed for the notification. However, finally the notification was issued on approval of Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, following a Law Department opinion that the Lt Governor's nod was not required to do the same.