How fair is Auto fare?

 

(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.

But here's a question we must all ask:

Is the system fair to auto drivers, especially during peak hours and traffic delays?

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❌ 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.

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🔍 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?

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🛠 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.

Formula:

Total Fare = Distance Fare + Time-based Fare

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

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🚕 Next time you sit in an auto, just ask yourself - How fair is Auto fare?