Travelling to get costlier
With the increase in the price of CNG in Delhi from Rs 21.90 to Rs 27.50 per kg, the transport department is now ready with the proposal to hike fares of autos and taxis in the capital. While the hike in fuel prices has already disappointed youngsters in the city, the increase in auto fares is bound to upset working professionals, who will have to shell out double the amount while going to work.
Gunjan Kapur, a media professional, says, “How will that make a difference? Even if the government increases the prices, auto drivers will make their own rules, according to their will. They will just quote higher prices now, as it’s anyway a daily struggle with autowallas to charge by the meter. Even now I spend half of my salary on commuting, after the hike it will be worse. My finances will be severely hit, but there is not much I can do about it other than just hoping the Metro comes up in South Delhi faster, so that travelling becomes cheaper and convenient.”
Many are even planning to travel more by buses. Rachit Singh, who travels everyday from Sukhdev Vihar to Connaught Place, shares, “After the increase in bus fares in December, the hike in auto and taxi fares is just an added pressure. As bus fares are still affordable I’m planning to travel by bus, as much as possible. Although the government has increased the salaries of employees, they have not revised the tax. And with the increasing price of essential commodities, the auto fare hike will only affect the daily budget of the middle-class.”
Besides that, the only service that commuters are happy about is the government’s plan to link the fare hike with the installation of GPS system in autos, which will bring them under constant surveillance of the transport department.
Tanha Yadav, a law student says, “The idea of GPS will be great, if it manages to function smoothly. Besides that, if there is a price hike, the government should also make an effort to improve the condition of autos and cabs. There should also be regulations set to fine auto drivers for fleecing commuters.”
But there are a few who feel that the auto fare hike is justified. Ruchika Rai, a media student says, “I think if the government increases fuel rates, autos will definitely charge more. Also, with the Metro network spreading quickly I’m sure they are suffering losses, so the hike is acceptable. I think more than anything else, we really need to question inflation and analyse our policy-making procedures, rather then cursing the fare hike.”
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