Auto, taxi rides in Mumbai to get costlier amid rising fuel prices

Mumbai's auto rickshaws and taxis will experience higher fares due to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) approving a cost increase. The base fare for auto rickshaws will rise from Rs 26 to Rs 27, while taxis will see their base fare increase from Rs 31 to Rs 33. The hike applies to the initial 1.5 kilometers of the journey.

The decision came from an MMRTA meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Sethi and included input from senior transport officials. The hike was necessitated by the rising cost of fuel and increased operating expenses for both auto rickshaws and taxis. Officials cited the overall cost of fuel, including CNG and petrol, which has also led to higher operating costs.

The revised fares are expected to take effect in the coming weeks following a notification from the MMRTA to regional transport offices (RTOs). The fare increase aligns with recommendations from the 2017 BC Khatua Committee report, which considers factors such as fuel prices, vehicle costs, loan interest rates, Consumer Price Index (CPI), and government taxes when determining fare revisions.