Mumbai commuters will soon feel the burden in their travel budgets as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) has announced a fare hike for autorickshaws and black-and-yellow taxis, effective February 1, 2025. The decision, impacting approximately 2.3 lakh autorickshaws and 20,000 taxis in Mumbai and its metropolitan region, comes amid rising operational costs.
The base fare for autorickshaws will rise to ₹26, up from ₹23, while black-and-yellow taxis will now charge ₹31, an increase from ₹28 for the first 1.5 kilometers. The adjustment also extends to blue-and-silver AC cool cabs, whose starting fare will jump from ₹40 to ₹48 once meters are recalibrated.
Shared rides, a popular option for budget-conscious commuters, are also affected. The minimum fare for shared autorickshaws will increase from ₹8 to ₹9 per passenger, while shared taxis will see proportional fare hikes.
Adding to commuters’ woes, the Maharashtra State Transport Authority (STA) has approved a 14.95% hike in Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus fares. This will be effective from January 25, this change is expected to impact around 55 lakh daily passengers across the state.
The fare revisions follow the Khatua Committee formula for fare adjustments, which factors in rising fuel prices and maintenance costs. However, the hikes have drawn criticism from passenger rights activists, who argue that the increases will disproportionately burden low-income commuters already grappling with Mumbai’s high cost of living.
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