Mumbai: Base fares for autos and taxis rise by Rs 3

Photo for representational purpose

The base fares of autos and taxis in Mumbai Metropolitan Region have gone up by Rs 3. The fares increased to Rs 21 from Rs 18 for autos and from Rs 22 to Rs 25 for taxis. The date when the revised fares will be effective is not clear yet.

Transport officials refused to comment on it as Maharashtra transport minister Anil Parab is expected to make a formal announcement later in the evening.

Auto and taxi unions had opposed the hike during the pandemic as their business had already been suffering.

Auto union leaders said that they had met the transport minister but never made any demand for fare hike. Mumbai Automen union leader Shashank Sharad Rao said they had five principal demands and fare hike was never one of them, but Transport Minister Anil Parab said that the hike had already been planned.

Commuters said now the auto and taxi men will ask for more fare and still refuse to ply. "Auto guys will now ask for Rs 20 and still refuse to ply. The government should address the root cause," said a commuter.