Mangaluru, January 30: A special meeting was convened by the DK RTA on Friday, January 30th in the wake of the autorickshaw operators stir since Tuesday midnight.
Depuy Commissioner AB Ibrahim, RTA chairman; has instructed the autorickshaw operators to charge the customers with revised reduced fares of minimum Rs. 20 and Rs. 13 per km thereafter or face legal action.
The deputy commissioner has announced that instead of a month, the autorickshaw operators will be granted three months time to recalibrate the meters. Till then they are instructed to collect Rs 5 less than the auto fares displayed on their meters.
However, the autorickshaw operators opposed it said that the prices of daily commodities and other stuffs have not yet brought down and it was not a fair decision.
DC Ibrahim pointed out that though LPG price has come down by over 41 per cent and petrol by 17 per cent, the reduction was just seven per cent. The claim of operators was not justifiable, said the DC.
Dr. S.D Sharanappa, Superintendent of Police, requested the operators to prepare a worksheet of incurred losses and convince the RTA before placing a new request for fare revision.
Speaking to the media later, DC A B Ibrahim said that if the strike continues, the RTA would allow autorickshaws permitted to ply in the entire Taluk to operate within the city.
He also revealed that there are plans to launch toll free number in future to register complaints against the erring autorickshaws and buses. The interests of the citizens too have to be kept in mind, said the DC.
The rickshaw fares are as below:
| Minimum till 1.5 km | per km thereafter | |
| Present fare | Rs. 25 | Rs. 14 |
| Revised fare | Rs. 20 | Rs. 13 |
