(Courtesy https://www.deccanherald.com)
Starting August 1, 2025, auto-rickshaw fares in
Bangalore will go up. The base fare will increase to ₹36 for the first 2 km,
up from ₹30, and ₹18 per additional kilometer, up from ₹15. Night-time
charges (10 PM to 5 AM) will be 1.5x the meter fare. Drivers must recalibrate
their meters by October 31.
❌ No Extra Fare for Peak Hours or
Delays — Even When It’s Justified
Auto drivers are not allowed to charge anything extra,
even if:
- They’re
stuck in peak-hour traffic for twice the usual time.
- There's
a religious procession, a political rally, or VIP movement.
- It’s
raining or a road is under construction.
- They're
burning extra fuel and missing potential trips.
Yet, they are not allowed to charge extra for the additional
travel time. Why?
Because the law says so. Even though cab aggregators are
allowed to charge up to 2x the fare during peak hours, auto-rickshaws
are excluded from such flexibility.
🔍 Everyone Else Can Surge
Their Prices — Except Autos?
You may be shocked to find that ticket rates for buses,
trains, and flights are NOT fixed — they fluctuate daily based on
demand.
- Private
bus operators hike fares during festivals.
- Airlines
charge 3–5x during weekends or holidays.
- Even
government-owned IRCTC uses dynamic pricing - Just google it!
So why are auto drivers the only ones forced into a fixed-rate box — regardless of delays, costs, or hardship? This deep systemic disparity leaves auto drivers no choice but to demand extra money when the opportunity arises. Is that fair to them or to the passenger?
🛠 A Simple and Fair
Solution — With No Major Changes
Right now, fares are calculated based on:
- Distance
travelled, and
- Waiting
charges — which start only after the first 5 minutes of idle
time before the journey starts.
But what if we tweak this — just slightly?
✅ New Model: Charge by Distance +
Time
Let’s calculate fares using distance and actual time
taken, just like many taxis and app-based cabs already do.
Example:
- Distance:
5 km → ₹90 (at ₹18/km)
- Normal
time taken: 15 minutes
- Rental
time charge: ₹1 per minute
- Total
fare: ₹90 + ₹15 = ₹105
If the journey takes 30 minutes, then fare would be = ₹90 + ₹30 = ₹120.
This encourages:
- Fair
compensation for auto drivers stuck in traffic
- Discouragement
of rash driving, as time-based fare rewards patience
- Transparency,
as both distance and time can be shown on digital meters
Most importantly, passengers pay for what they use —
nothing more, nothing less
🚕 Next time you sit in an auto, just ask yourself - How fair is Auto fare?