Bengaluru auto drivers reject 20% fare hike; Plan protest
No scope for change; drivers must follow it: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy
Bengaluru: Bengaluru's auto drivers have expressed strong opposition to the government's decision to increase fares by 20% starting August 1, with several unions announcing a boycott of the hike.
The protest is expected to involve around 50,000 drivers who have called for a halt on recalibrating meters until the government reviews the decision, as reported by Deccan Herald on Wednesday.
The District Transport Authority has set a new base fare of Rs 36 for the first 2 km and Rs 18 for every additional kilometre. This is a rise from the current fare of Rs 30 for the first 2 km and Rs 15 per km, which has been in place since 2021.
“We are dissatisfied with the hike. It is unscientific and ignores inflation. We have written to the chief secretary and Bangalore Urban deputy commissioner, but received no response,” DH quoted D. Rudramurthy, general secretary, Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union (ARDU), as saying.
Drivers are demanding a base fare of Rs 40 and Rs 20 per km. C. Sampath, General Secretary of the Adarsha Auto Union, also voiced concerns over the practicality of the new fares. "We will not accept anything less. The fare must be rounded off. With UPI usage declining, giving change will become a problem," he stated.
However, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stood firm on the fare hike. "The fare was finalised after due research. There is no scope for change. Drivers must follow it,” DH quoted Reddy as saying.
A senior Regional Transport Officer (RTO) official quoted in the report warned that non-compliance could affect drivers’ fitness certificates and permits. “We will coordinate with the traffic police and the Bangalore Urban deputy commissioner,” he added.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
