The Tamil Nadu government has revised autorickshaw fares for the first time in 13 years, with the new rates notified in the state government gazette on October 27. Under the revised fare structure, passengers will pay a minimum of Rs 50 for the first 1.8 kilometres, followed by Rs 25 for every additional kilometre. The notification was issued by the Home Department (Transport-I) under Government Order (G.O. Ms.) No. 366, dated October 27, under Section 67 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
The revision replaces earlier notifications issued on August 25, 2013, and October 16, 2014. It directs the State Transport Authority and the relevant Regional Transport Authorities to implement the revised fares for contract carriage autorickshaws in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and other parts of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu auto fare revision: What are the new rates?
Under the revised structure, the minimum fare for an autorickshaw journey is Rs 50 for the first 1.8 km. Passengers will be charged an additional Rs 25 for every kilometre travelled thereafter.
The government has also prescribed separate rates for journeys involving ghat roads, night-time travel and waiting periods.
The revised charges are as follows:
- Minimum fare: Rs 50 for the first 1.8 km
- Additional distance: Rs 25 per kilometre
- Ghat fare: Rs 60 as the base fare, fixed at 1.2 times the minimum fare
- Additional ghat charge: Rs 30 per kilometre
- Night fare: 1.5 times the regular fare between 10 pm and 5 am
- Waiting charge: Rs 1 per minute
The revised notification sets out the rates that transport authorities across the state have been directed to implement.
Why has Tamil Nadu revised autorickshaw fares?
Autorickshaw fares had remained unchanged for 13 years, with the previous revision dating back to August 25, 2013. The government has now revised the rates amid rising operating costs faced by drivers.
The 2013 government order had fixed the minimum fare at Rs 25 for the first 1.8 km and Rs 12 for every additional kilometre in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. It also prescribed waiting charges of Rs 3.50 for every five minutes and a night surcharge of 50% between 11 pm and 5 am.
The latest revision increases the minimum fare and the per-kilometre charge while changing the prescribed waiting and night-time rates.
Which areas will the revised auto fares cover?
The notification directs the State Transport Authority and the concerned Regional Transport Authorities to implement the revised fare structure for contract carriage autorickshaws operating in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and other regions of Tamil Nadu.
The order was issued under Section 67 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which provides the legal basis for the regulation of fares and related matters involving transport services.
With the new rates notified, passengers and autorickshaw drivers will need to refer to the revised fare structure as the relevant transport authorities implement the changes.
Inputs from PTI