MUMBAI: Beginning on October 1, taxi and auto journeys in Mumbai will cost extra. The Maharashtra transport department approved the rise in auto and taxi rates on Tuesday. All auto and taxi meters must be calibrated by November 30, 2022, and the increase will be implemented immediately. The state administration decided to increase the prices for these two transportation options after the auto taxi unions threatened to strike three times in the previous two months.

The Regional Transport Office Regional Transport Office (RTO) issued a circular that stated, We have evaluated the escalating pricing of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which will go from Rs 49/kg in March 2021 to Rs 80 right now. On Monday, a meeting with the car, taxi, and passenger groups was convened in consideration of inflation, the rise in gasoline costs, and the Khatua committee's recommendations. The fee will now be increased to Rs 23 for cars and Rs 28 for taxis, cool cabs will now charge Rs 40.

No of the fuel used, these rates apply to all cars and taxis in the city. Taxis and cars will be permitted to operate with a valid tariff card as long as the meters' recalibration is not finished.

The fare for autos was Rs 21 for the first 1.5 kilometer and has now increased to Rs 23. For every kilometer thereafter, Rs 15.33 will be charged in place of Rs 14.20. Meanwhile, taxis that used to ply for Rs 25 for the first 1.5 km has increased to Rs 28 and for every kilometer thereafter, Rs 18.66 will be charged instead of Rs 16.93.

According to the Khatua committee study, the price increase for cars and taxis should have been Rs 24 and Rs 29, respectively. Uday Samant, the industries minister, asked for the fare to be lowered by one rupee at our meeting. We no longer have any expectations in this respect as the decision was mutually accepted, according to A L Quadros, general secretary of the Mumbai Taximen's Union.

The decision to raise the fare was made during a meeting on Monday, but the minutes weren't signed and made public until Tuesday. The current auto and taxi fares went into effect in March 2021.