Auto Taxi Price Hike: Common people are going to get a shock from 1 February 2025. Auto and taxi fare is going to increase from Saturday next week. Transportation cost of common people will increase. The common people will get this shock when the budget is being presented in the country on 1 February. In fact, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) has approved an increase of Rs 3 in basic fares of auto rickshaw and black-yellow taxi. These new rates will be applicable from 1 February 2025. Earlier, the last increase in fares was made in October 2022.
How much will the new fare have to be paid?
auto rickshaw: For the first 1.5 kilometers, now Rs 26 will have to be paid instead of Rs 23.
Black-yellow taxi: For the initial 1.5 km, Rs 31 will have to be paid instead of Rs 28.
Blue-end-silver AC Cool Cab: For the initial 1.5 km, now Rs 48 will have to be paid instead of Rs 40. However, passengers will pay these new rates only when the auto and taxi meters will be re-calibrated according to the new rates.
Reason for increasing fare
According to a transport department official, this step has been taken due to the increasing competition between Best and Navi Mumbai Transport Service. The minimum fare of their AC bus services is Rs 6 and 10 respectively, causing damage to auto and taxi drivers.
New facilities for metro connectivity
Keeping in mind the convenience of passengers, MMRTA has announced that seven new auto stands will be built outside the five stations of the first phase of the Metro Line 3 (Aare to Bandra-Kurla Complex). Apart from this, more than 30 regular and share autosy stands will be launched on busy routes like eastern and western suburbs, Thane, Kalyan and Vasai, which will improve the last-mile connectivity.
Passengers will affect
This increase will directly affect passengers using auto and taxi. However, improvement in new features and connectivity will also give them better service. Passengers are advised to plan their journey according to new rates.