Mumbai: The proposed increase in autorickshaw and taxi fares across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region has drawn criticism from commuter groups and passenger rights activists, who argue that another fare hike will further strain household budgets already under pressure from inflation.Activists said the increase comes at a time when middle-class families are grappling with rising expenses on housing, food, education, healthcare and transport. “Every increase may look small in isolation, but for people who depend on autos and taxis daily, the cumulative impact over the past few years is significant,” said passenger rights activist G R Vora.Calling the proposed hike “unjustified”, Vora said the current minimum taxi fare of Rs 31 for the first 1.6 km is adequate. “Aggregator cabs such as Ola and Uber have already eaten into the business of kaali-peeli taxis. Any further hike in taxi fares could prove suicidal for the industry itself,” he said.Transport activist Mohammed Afzal said the issue must be viewed from both the commuters’ and drivers’ perspectives. “The cost of living has increased sharply, but many middle-class families are struggling with stagnant incomes and job uncertainties. Sustaining additional transport costs will be difficult for many,” he said.Passenger rights groups also highlighted continuing complaints of overcharging by some drivers. Advocate Godfrey Pimenta recently informed media that many passengers arriving at airports are unaware of the correct autorickshaw fares due to the absence of prominently displayed fare charts. He recalled an incident in which an autorickshaw driver allegedly demanded Rs 200 for a short journey from Terminal 2 to Marol, where the metered fare should have been around Rs 30.Activist Anil Galgali alleged that overcharging remains rampant at airports, railway stations and tourist hubs despite repeated complaints to transport authorities. Citizens said instances of drivers demanding extra charges, refusing short trips or threatening to terminate rides midway continue to be reported, raising concerns over service quality even as fares move upward.Kandivli resident Sonali Dey said: “If there is a hike in fares, will that guarantee good service? There should be no tampering of meter and no overcharging by drivers. Moreover, both traffic police and RTO should conduct regular drives to weed out illegal autos and book errant drivers.”Chembur resident Rahul Jain concurred. “There should be zero refusals and every driver is duty bound, as per his badge, to provide public service. I do not mind paying a little more as they too are earning a livelihood. But most drivers refuse passengers and some of them are rude and this should be stopped.”Transport analyst Vivek Pai suggested that with a fare hike, there should also be adequate number of share auto/taxi stands on feeder routes. “This ensures that passengers are not overcharged and it also helps them save money while going to work and returning home daily. Its a win-win situation for everybody and assures first- and last-mile connectivity. There should also be some kind of sticker for share auto and drivers so that they can be identified on road,” he added.
