The decks have been cleared for a hike in auto and taxi charges with Transport Minister Antony Raju holding talks with the M. Ramachandran committee set up by the government to study the issue.
Emerging from the meeting, the Minister said here on Monday that there was a general consensus among the participants that the fare hike, as demanded by vehicle owners and transport employees’ unions, was inevitable in the light of a steep increase in fuel price.
The committee, he said, had recommended an increase in the minimum charge for autos from ₹25 to ₹30 and an increase in the per km fare from ₹12 to ₹15. The panel had also recommended retaining the 50% additional charge for trips outside urban limits and night-time trips inside cities and waiting charge of ₹10 for 15 minutes.
