Cab fares likely to increase

Booking a cab through taxi aggregators might not be a cheaper travel option soon as the State government is considering fixing a minimum fare of Rs. 10 for non air-conditioned cabs and Rs. 12 for air-conditioned cabs. A report suggesting these minimum fares was submitted by M.K Aiyappa, Transport Commissioner, to the government on Tuesday.

The fares have been fixed based on the recommendations of a committee set up by Mr. Aiyappa earlier this month. Drivers, working with Ola and Uber, have been protesting since last December asking for the government to intervene to protect their incomes.

“The report has been submitted today for consideration by the government. They will have to approve it,” Mr. Aiyappa said. While the fares recommended are still lower than the fares for radio taxis, it is expected to bring some relief to drivers who were operating for fares as low as Rs. 6 per km in certain categories of services.

It remains to be seen if drivers, who went on strike against low fares recently, will be satisfied with the recommended fares. On Sunday, a group of drivers announced that they would launch their own aggregator service with the support of former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

In Maharashtra

Minimum fares for aggregators have also been suggested in neighbouring Maharashtra where the government recently notified the Maharastra City Taxi Regulations 2017. However, in Karnataka, which introduced rules governing taxi aggregators in January 2016, the fares will have to be fixed separately as the aggregator rules have been challenged in the High Court.


Current

Radio taxi rates (Maximum)

Rs. 14.50 per km (non–AC)

Rs. 19.50 per km (AC)


Recommended aggregator fares (Minimum)

Rs. 10 per km (non–AC)

Rs. 12 per km (AC)


Current fares (Minimum)

Ola Micro: Rs. 6 per km till 15 km + other charges

Uber Go: Rs. 7.42 per km + other charges