Mangaluru: Autorickshaw drivers and owners in Dakshina Kannada have demanded the district administration consider a fare hike.The Karnataka Pragathipara Auto Drivers’ Association affiliated with the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) submitted a memorandum to the Dakshina Kannada district administration seeking hike in fares of autorickshaws in the district. According to its members, the association works nationwide to support workers and economically weaker sections, while actively advocating for autorickshaw drivers in Dakshina Kannada.The association highlighted that skyrocketing fuel prices—driven by global conflict fears—and a sharp spike in essential commodity costs have severely hit autorickshaw drivers’ livelihoods. Over the past two to three months alone, fuel costs for autorickshaws have surged by more than Rs 35. On top of that, drivers face significantly higher expenses for spare parts, maintenance, fitness certification (FC) and insurance.In view of the escalating operational costs, the association members urged the Dakshina Kannada district administration to revise the meter fares of autorickshaws operating in the district. They demanded that the minimum fare be increased to Rs 50, with Rs 25 for each additional km thereafter. They also urged the district administration to fix Rs 2 per minute towards waiting charge.Currently, the minimum auto fare in the district is Rs 35, and Rs 20 for each additional km thereafter. Further, since there is no waiting charge for the first 15 minutes at present, auto drivers also demand reduction of this grace period, and the waiting charge be fixed at Rs 2 per minute.
