Talks on auto fare hike inconclusive

MUMBAI, DEC 5: Talks between the State Government and the Mumbai Auto Union to resolve the ongoing dispute over the fare hike proved inconclusive, despite a marathon six-hour meeting with the Transport Minister Divakar Raote and Chief Minister Manohar Joshi.

The Government is sticking to its guns in not allowing a fare hike. “The auto unions are asking for a hike of Rs 1.50, we will not grant it,” Raote said. However, he said that the tenuous issue was likely to be resolved by Sunday.

Autorickshaws in Mumbai went on a day’s strike last Tuesday demanding a fare hike, following the State Government’s move to hike petrol prices from Rs 27.07 to Rs 27.96 per litre. The union is demanding that every additional kilometre on the metre be charged Rs 5.30 from the existing Rs 3.50.