Auto Fares

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Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 9, 2015:  Dakshina Kannada district, is known for several firsts in various fields, it also is the first to react to the steep reduction in fuel prices by reducing auto fares. However, for the adamant attitude of operators/drivers and political screwing. Bus fares are already down to August 2013 rates in the district.

As far back as January 9, 2015, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) had directed the operators to reduce the minimum fare from Rs. 25 to Rs. 20 per km, but the operators were adamant. While their strategies  of holding dharnas, a three-day strike, and even defying the Karnataka High Court all went in vain, their approach to a ruling party politician paid better dividends.

District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai  put his foot in his mouth with the decision of the RTA, a quasi-judicial authority. He directed it to put the reduction on hold and instead convene a fresh meeting and fix fares as demanded by auto operators.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim has every reason to defend the reduction. First of all, the minimum fare was fixed at Rs. 25 to avoid the matter of handing over ‘small change’ to customers in July 2014, though it should have been Rs. 23. Since then, petrol has become cheaper by over 20 per cent and auto LPG by over 46 per cent, but the proposed reduction was just 7 per cent, keeping in mind the increased cost of living.

The sick attitude of the operators/drivers, and the Minister’s interference has become unpopular with the public. Forum for Justice, a Mangaluru civil society group, has lashed out against both and threatened to launch an agitation.