Autorickshaw rides in national capital will soon become costlier if a panel formed by the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi agrees with the demand of auto unions to increase waiting charges of three wheelers.
The Delhi government has formed a three-member committee which will review the demands of auto unions to review waiting charges of autorickshaws.
Transport Minister Satyendar Jain has directed the committee, comprising senior officers from Transport Department, DIIMTS and Department of Weights and Measures, to submit its report on revision of the existing waiting charge.
According to a senior government official, autorickshaw unions have been demanding revision of waiting charges for long saying these are very nominal.
As per existing fare system, if an auto gets stuck in a traffic congestion and is also asked to wait for more than 16 minutes, a passenger pays the driver around 60 to 80 paisa per minute.
"The Transport Minister has asked the three-member committee to prepare a report on the demand for revision of waiting charge and submit the same as soon as possible," the official said.
Delhi Autoricksaw Sangh has welcomed the government's move and asked it to immediately introduce revised waiting charges in the city.
"There has been no increase in waiting charge for several years. We have been demanding that new waiting charge in traffic jams should be included in actual fare," said Rajendra Soni, general secretary of Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh.
(With PTI inputs)
