Ahmedabad: In the wake of rising CNG prices, an increase in auto-rickshaw fares has been approved in Ahmedabad. At a meeting held at the Transport Commissioner’s office in Gandhinagar, it was decided to raise the minimum rickshaw fare from Rs. 20 to Rs. 25, while the per-kilometre fare has been increased from Rs. 15 to Rs. 20. The fare revision comes after nearly three to four years.

The decision was taken unanimously at a meeting attended by the Transport Commissioner, officials of the Ahmedabad RTO, representatives of the Rickshaw Drivers Welfare Association, Smart City Driver Union and other stakeholders. Rickshaw drivers’ organisations had been demanding a fare hike for a long time.

According to rickshaw drivers, CNG prices have been rising steadily over the past few months. In the last two months alone, the price of CNG has increased by around Rs. 6 and is now close to Rs. 88 per kg. However, rickshaw fares had remained unchanged for several years, increasing the financial burden on drivers.

The Rickshaw Drivers’ Unity Union had earlier demanded that the minimum fare be increased to Rs. 50 and the per-kilometre fare to Rs. 20. While the demand for the per-kilometre fare has been accepted, the minimum fare has been fixed at Rs. 25.

Vijay Makwana, president of the Rickshaw Drivers’ Unity Union, said drivers had been facing difficulties due to rising inflation and fuel costs, as fares had not been revised for the past four years. He said the decision, taken after repeated representations, would provide much-needed relief to rickshaw drivers.

With the implementation of the revised rates, passengers in Ahmedabad will now have to pay higher fares for auto-rickshaw travel. DeshGujarat