BANGALORE: With fares for auto rickshaws set to go up from Monday onwards, many citizens in Bangalore are unhappy about the hike and autos in general. Auto fares from March 12 will go up to a minimum of Rs 20 for 1.8 km and 11 rupees per km thereafter instead of the current 17 rupees minimum for 2.0 km and 9 rupees per additional km. “The minimum fare is just too high.Auto drivers anyway ask for 10 rupees extra for nearby distances, which will take it further to 30 rupees,” said Kaushik, a resident of Murugeshpalya.He said that considering the new fares, it made more sense to take the bus instead.Many citizens also complained about the need to ensure auto drivers stopped refusing to go on hire and said that a rise of 3 rupees could be adjusted to if only getting an auto was not an uphill battle.“It is difficult to convince an auto driver to go on hire in the first place, you have to beg and cajole your way through. Paying them extra money is a part of the deal in most cases. Why do they need a price hike then? ” said Trisha, a software professional.She argued that auto drivers must be disciplined and pre-paid autos must be the norm of the day instead of focusing on hiking fares. Another citizen put up an interesting argument, “If I am travelling in the night time, I have to pay 250 rupees for a distance of just 10 km in an auto, it costs me 200 to call a cab and travel in comfort instead.If only they charged according to meter it would be feasible for all,” he said.Fares for a popular taxi service in the city are `77 for the first 4 km and `19.25 thereafter per km. Fare hikes have not been positively received by all auto drivers too as many of them are now saying that the decision to increase the minimum was a bad one.“They should have decreased the minimum and reduced the distance to 1 km.Also, the per km rate could have been hiked, people now will just not bother getting into an auto for short distances,” rued an auto driver, who wished to remain unnamed. This sentiment is being echoed by citizens who are increasingly considering going in for other means of travel like bus passes, the metro and even their own vehicles.“I can travel on my bike for a fraction more of the cost that I pay for an auto.There will be no begging the auto drivers as well,” said Raghav. The fare hike has been justified by the auto drivers unions and the Government who attributed it to the rising costs of LPG.A committee appointed by the Deputy Commissioner M K Aiyappa to look into public opinion had given its recommendations stating that the public had agreed to a hike but the prevailing mood in the city is one of anger at the Government for not cracking down on the thousands of autos who simply refuse to go on hire in the city.
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