Sharad Rao-led Mumbai Auto rickshawmen’s Union (MAU) on Monday threatened that rickshaw drivers would start charging the additional fare hike as recommended by P.M.A Hakim Committee from September 14 if the government did not approve of a fare hike by September 13.
State government authorities however have slammed the union.
“There should a rational method and this is unfair. The P.M.A Hakim Committee has submitted its report and there is a process for its implementation. We need to take into account the views of the passenger representatives and the consumer activists,” said S.K. Sharma, principal secretary (transport), Maharashtra,
Mr Rao, in a press conference on Monday said, “Auto rickshaw drivers are of the opinion that they should start charging the hike recommended by the Hakim Committee,”
Auto rickshaw drivers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will stay off the roads on September 13 to demand an increase in the base fare and have protest rallies at the transport commissioner’s office in Bandra and at RTOs in the MMR region.
Transport department sources stated that if auto rickshaw drivers start charging the additional fare before any declaration by the government, action such as suspension of permit will be taken.