In Bengaluru, meter off, fares up

“What’s the point of increasing the minimum auto fare to ₹36? It’s a joke,” says Supriya Prasanna, a daily autorickshaw commuter from Basavanagudi in south Bengaluru.

Supriya, who has been commuting by autorickshaw for the past eight years, recalls a time when she could hail one from near her house and pay the minimum fare of ₹25 when drivers agreed to go by the meter. “Sometimes they would ask for ‘one-and-a-half’ or a small extra amount, which was still manageable,” she says.

Dependence on apps

However, for the past three years, Supriya has shifted to using autorickshaw aggregator apps. Initially, she says, they were affordable, especially with introductory offers. But over time, the convenience of doorstep pickup and drop at her office on Cunningham Road in the central business district (CBD) made her dependent on the apps even as the prices steadily climbed.

“Now, these aggregators charge absurd amounts without any transparency,” she complains. “They add convenience fees, pick-up charges, surge pricing, driver additions, and even ask for a tip before the ride begins. There’s no clear break-up.”

According to her, the recent government decision to revise the minimum fare to ₹36 is meaningless in a system that no longer functions as intended. “Neither do the drivers use a meter, nor do the aggregators offer reasonable rates. This whole minimum fare hike is a mockery of both commuters and auto drivers. The authorities should instead focus on fixing the broken system,” laments Supriya.

While most autorickshaw drivers in the city refuse to go by the meter, a few still do, much to the surprise of regular commuters. Meenakshi S., a frequent auto user, recalls a recent experience when she booked an aggregator auto in the CBD from Infantry Road to Seshadripuram and was charged ₹117. However, on her return journey from Seshadripuram to Infantry Road, she could not find an auto through the app and eventually flagged down a passing one. To her surprise, the driver agreed to go by the meter without any hesitation, and the fare came to just ₹42.

“It’s so rare to find autos that agree to use the meter these days. I was shocked when he didn’t argue or demand a fixed rate. It was a pleasant experience and a reminder that some honest drivers are still around. But it’s frustrating that you have to rely on chance to find them. Why can’t this be the norm? Why do we have to depend on the apps that loot both passengers and auto drivers,” she adds.

₹36 minimum fare, 50% night surcharge

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of Bengaluru Urban district revised auto fares within the city limits on July 14, with the new rates taking effect from August 1. According to the order issued by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, the minimum fare has been increased to ₹36 for the first 2 km, up from the earlier ₹30. Additionally, the per-kilometre rate beyond 2 km has been raised from ₹15 to ₹18.

Commuters travelling between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. will now have to pay a 50% night fare surcharge. The revised fare structure also includes updates to baggage and waiting charges. Passengers can carry up to 20 kg of luggage for free; beyond this, a fee of ₹10 will be levied for every additional 20 kg or part thereof, with the total luggage capped at 50 kg. The first five minutes of waiting time will be free, after which passengers will be charged ₹10 for every 15 minutes of delay.

In a city like Bengaluru, autorickshaws play a vital role in daily commuting, often serving as a lifeline for thousands of citizens, particularly for last-mile connectivity. Over the years, auto fares have undergone significant changes, influenced by rising fuel prices, inflation, and the overall cost of living. In 2008, the minimum fare was ₹14, which has now risen to ₹36.

Auto unions and drivers reject fare hike

However, autorickshaw unions in the city have expressed disappointment, stating that the recent fare hike is too modest and does not reflect the increased operational costs faced by drivers.

Auto unions have termed the hike “unscientific” and demanded that the base fare be raised to ₹40. The revision comes after five years, but autorickshaw drivers are far from happy. The Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU) has strongly opposed the decision, calling it “unilateral, unscientific, and against due process”.

The unions have cited rising prices of fuel and spare parts, along with inflation, as reasons for their demand. “Over the past three years, prices have steadily increased, especially those of auto spare parts. Auto drivers face significant challenges, including heavy traffic, which restricts them to covering no more than 70 km a day, thereby drastically reducing their daily earnings,” says T.M. Rudramurthy, general secretary of the ARDU.

The union has written to the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner, pointing out what it claims are procedural lapses. “As per Rule 53 of the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, the Deputy Commissioner is not the chairperson of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA). Despite this, he has issued the order unilaterally. This is not acceptable,” the letter states.

The union is demanding a base fare of ₹40 for the first 2 km and ₹20 for every additional km. It has also called for annual fare revision, arguing that long gaps between revisions are unfair, given the rising cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance.

The Adarsh Auto Union has also proposed raising the fare to ₹40 for the first 2 km, and ₹20 for each additional kilometre. L. Manjunatha, a union member, says, “The current CNG price is ₹83 a kg as against around ₹50 to ₹60 in 2021. However, fares have not been adjusted to account for the rising fuel costs. In Bengaluru, nearly all autos run on CNG, although electric autos are becoming more common. While high fuel costs do not affect e-autos, they are significantly expensive, costing between ₹4.7 lakh and ₹5 lakh, while a CNG auto costs ₹2.35 lakh.”

Resorting to other ways

Many drivers in Bengaluru have turned to alternative methods to compensate for their stagnant incomes, such as bypassing meters and charging passengers at their discretion. This has led to increasing friction between drivers and passengers. As a result, many passengers have shifted to app-based aggregators. Though app-based aggregators offer convenience and easier access to autorickshaws, the “illogical” pricing remains a concern.

Manjunath K., an auto driver from Jalahalli in the northern part of the city, welcomed the increase in the minimum fare, but lamented that it was a small increase. “It’s becoming impossible to make ends meet every day. The last fare revision was three years ago, and since then, everything has become more expensive: fuel, spare parts, and even the cost of living. But our fares stayed the same. We have no choice but to stop using meters and set our own fares or rely on aggregator apps. While these apps charge us a hefty commission, the fares we earn through them are at least better than the standard meter rates,” he says.

Public transport woes mount

The fare hike has also sparked off criticism from commuters, who are already burdened by the rising cost of transportation. “The government has already raised bus and metro fares. Now, with auto fares also going up, daily commuting is becoming unaffordable,” says Aparna Rao, a private sector employee from Bommanahalli in south Bengaluru, who relies on multiple modes of public transport to reach her office from J.P. Nagar.

She points out that Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses are often irregular or crowded, and metro construction has been significantly delayed. “Take the Yellow Line, for example; construction has been completed, but there are still no trains running. Meanwhile, bike taxis, which at least helped with first- and last-mile connectivity, have been banned.”

She says, “I wonder what the government or officials are thinking about public transport. Most of those who make these policies don’t even use public transport. They travel in air-conditioned cars paid for by our tax money. They have no idea about the struggles faced by regular commuters. Instead of improving services, they’re just hiking prices across the board.”

Subhas Kumar, who travels between Rajajinagar in the western part of the city and M.G. Road in the CBD for work five days a week, says, “Auto fares on aggregator apps are already much higher than the government-fixed rates. This fare hike now just feels like a formality. Neither passengers nor auto drivers seem to be gaining anything from it.”

He criticises the role of aggregator companies, saying, “These big corporate-run apps are exploiting both sides — charging hefty commissions from drivers and imposing surge pricing on commuters. The government, by failing to provide reliable public transport, is letting these platforms thrive unchecked at the cost of ordinary people.”

Regular fare revisions key

Traffic and urban mobility experts believe the issue lies not in the fare hike itself, but in the lack of regular revisions. Srinivas Alavilli, Fellow, Integrated Transport and Road Safety, WRI India, believes that the revised minimum fare of ₹36 for 2 km may be inadequate for a city like Bengaluru in 2025. “This fare revision, which was long overdue, should have been based on institutional mechanisms that take into account inflation of consumer prices and the auto LPG price, which have more than doubled since 2020,” he says.

“I fully agree with the auto drivers that ₹36 is still too low considering their rising expenses. Their demand for a ₹40 minimum fare sounds reasonable,” he adds.

Mr. Srinivas points out that while regulations for cab fares are just being introduced and offer room for dynamic pricing, autos are the only mode of transport that has always been regulated, with no scope for peak-hour dynamic pricing. “Autos play a critical role in any city as intermediate public transport, providing last-mile services to buses and metros. A system that revises auto fares periodically using a set of agreed-upon parameters is much needed. A more rational fare revision mechanism can encourage drivers to use the meter more regularly”

He also expresses hope that more auto drivers will return to using meters after this revision. “As commuters, we must insist on paying by the meter and stop negotiating. We had meter autos in Bengaluru until the arrival of aggregators. Interestingly, most auto drivers I speak to still prefer a straightforward cash exchange over app-based payments,” he says.

Transport expert M.N. Sreehari notes that regular fare revisions can help address the persistent issue of auto drivers refusing rides in Bengaluru. “Many commuters complain that drivers don’t operate by the meter. If fares are revised annually, it can reduce overcharging and encourage better compliance,” he says.

He explains that irregular and delayed fare hikes often create dissatisfaction across the board, affecting drivers and commuters.

Auto apps to update fares

Meanwhile, the aggregator platforms such as Ola, Namma Yatri, Rapido, and Uber, are expected to update their fare structures in accordance with the government’s revised rates.

Representatives from two leading auto aggregators, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they would revise the base fare and per-kilometre charges from August 1, as per the government directive.

However, most aggregator apps still do not provide a clear fare break-up, leaving commuters unaware of what exactly they are being charged for. When The Hindu contacted these platforms to seek transparency on fare components, especially regarding the government-fixed minimum fare, they did not respond, except Namma Yatri, which confirmed it is displaying a detailed fare break-up, including minimum fare details.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has emphasised that the revised autorickshaw fares were finalised only after extensive consultation with all stakeholders, including commuters, drivers, and transport experts. “The fare revision is not an arbitrary decision. The RTA has carried out detailed studies over time, taking into account inflation, fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, and the financial viability for drivers. Officials have tried to strike a balance that is fair for both commuters and auto drivers,” he says.

Addressing concerns raised by some autorickshaw unions that the revised minimum fare is insufficient, the Minister says, “The new fare structure was designed keeping public interest in mind. While we acknowledge the drivers’ concerns, there is no scope for further revision at this point. All drivers are expected to adhere to the updated rates, and enforcement measures will be in place to ensure compliance.”

(Edited by Giridhar Narayan)