Autorickshaws plying in Vellore will from now have to comply with the revised minimum fare of Rs. 25 for 1.8 km. The State government issued an order on October 16 to implement the revised fare structure in all districts.
With the minimum fare being Rs. 25, a sum of Rs. 12 will be charged for every additional km. Waiting charges have been fixed at Rs. 3.5 for every five minutes.
As night charges, passengers travelling from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be charged 50 per cent more than the daytime fare.
Collector R. Nanthagopal, in a press release said, the rates were applicable from October 16. Autos plying with electronic meters will have to recalibrate the meters within 45 days of the date of the order.
The revised fare should be written or printed on the vehicles. He told the auto drivers and owners to charge passengers only according to the fixed fares.
However, the rates have not gone down well with auto drivers. Many vehicles ply without meters across the district, and reportedly collect fare in excess.
“Whenever I travel from Sathuvachari to the Katpadi Railway Station, the drivers charge me anywhere between Rs. 100 and Rs. 130. For some, it is Rs. 150. This is for a distance of nearly seven km,” a resident said.
M.P. Ramachandran, CITU district president, said the fixed fare structure is not acceptable for auto drivers in Vellore district. “Unlike cities like Chennai and Coimbatore, we do not get trips on our return journey, and end up plying without passengers. In such circumstances, the revised fare structure does not suit a place like Vellore as it will not fetch us income,” he said.
Nearly 15,000 autos ply across the district. Mr. Ramachandran said they are planning to convene a meeting of their federation this week to discuss the fare structure and come up with certain recommendations for the government.
“A major chunk of passengers in Vellore town are taken away by share autos. This too has to be considered,” he said.
In addition, mostly unemployed graduates drive autos and they need more time to recalibrate their meters.
Jones Prabhakaran, CITU district secretary, said a committee comprising the Collector, Joint Commissioner of Transport, traffic police officer, representatives of auto unions and consumer association representatives should be formed to discuss the problems and come up with a workable solution.
Revised fare structure does not suit a place like Vellore, says CITU chief
