[Resolved]  Auto Fare — Unreasonably high auto rickshaw fares in Navi Mumbai

Dear Sir,

I detest the arm twisting tactics deployed by auto unions to put undue pressure on RTO to increase the auto fares and then not to decrease them despite a huge fall in petrol prices (inspite of the fact that most of them still ply on CNG and make lame excuses that they have to wait in long queues which is totally baseless). I wonder how the RTO which was so fast in increasing the auto fares when petrol prices were hiked, is now so despondent and slow to react to a price fall in petrol. Some basic facts need to be well understood:

1) Minimum fare is now Rs 13 with Re 1.50 increase for every tick on the meter which culminates into an exorbitant sum. The Re 1.50 hike is more pinching than the minimum fare of Rs 13. How could the RTO sanction this extravagant rate card in August 2008 without even bothering to reckon consumer opinion?

2) Fares were hiked from Rs 9 to Rs 10 to Rs 10.50 to Rs 11 and then to Rs 11.50 in a jiffy; 4 times already before the 5th and final Rs 13. The same speed does not work for a reduction in fares.

3) In Mumbai the minimum fare continues to be Rs 9 and they run on CNG.

4) Auto drivers in Navi Mumbai argue they do not get CNG and hence have to run on petrol which is rubbish as many of them do ply on CNG and still charge Rs 13 which is enormous for a CNG auto. How come the RTO was so diffident in separating fare structure for CNG run and petrol run rickshaws in Navi Mumbai?

5) Each time fares have to be hiked in Navi Mumbai, autos have to go on a strike to pressurize their demand for increasing fares and RTO easily succumbs to it without any resistance. Why??

6) Even consumers need to have a lobby to pressurize their demands and exercise their common rights.

Hope the reluctant higher authorities are hearing this.