Autorickshaw unions press for increased fares in Pune amid CNG price rise

Pune: Autorickshaw fares in Pune are set to rise, with unions pressing for an immediate revision, citing soaring CNG price and mounting financial pressure on drivers.On Monday, a delegation from Rickshaw Panchayat, the city’s largest autorickshaw union, met Pune RTO officials and demanded a fare hike in line with the formula prescribed by the Khatua Committee.“The fare revision is calculated according to a fixed formula. At present, CNG supplied by MNGL in Pune city costs Rs 93.75 per kg, while Torrent Gas charges Rs 96.50 per kg in rural areas. The increase is becoming difficult for drivers to absorb,” Rickshaw Panchayat general secretary Nitin Pawar told TOI.Autorickshaw fares in Pune were last revised in early 2025 and currently stand at Rs 25 for the first 1.5km and Rs 17 for every subsequent kilometre.Pawar said the proposal is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), headed by the Pune collector, later this week.“RTO officials have assured us that our demand will be placed before the RTA. We expect a decision by the end of the week,” he said.The union has also sought immediate implementation of the revised fares once approved. According to Pawar, the mandatory recalibration of meters after every fare revision often delays enforcement.“We have requested the authorities to introduce a rate card so passengers and drivers can calculate the revised fare without waiting for meter recalibration. An approved mobile application can also serve the purpose,” he said.More than one lakh autorickshaws operate in Pune, while Pimpri Chinchwad has around 45,000.Azad Rickshaw Chalak Sanghatna president Shafiq Patel said a fare increase had become inevitable.“Drivers are already struggling with rising operational costs. Without a fare revision, many will face severe financial hardship,” he said.The proposed hike, however, is likely to add to the burden on commuters already grappling with rising household expenses.“How are we supposed to manage? Domestic LPG price was increased by Rs 29 last week. Salaries are not rising, companies are talking about layoffs, and everyday expenses keep going up. It feels worse than the Covid period,” said Vishrantwadi resident Prashant Ranjan, who works in the private sector.Archana Kulkarni, a homemaker from Pimpri, echoed the concern.“Fuel price has gone through the roof. We have cut down on driving, but even then it is becoming difficult for middle-class families to make ends meet,” she said.Meanwhile, RTO employees across the state will go on a token one-day strike on Tuesday and begin an indefinite strike from June 16. The agitation is likely to affect several transport-related services for residents.Office-bearers of the RTO Employees Association said several issues, including the cancellation of promotions for 56 employees, remain unresolved. They added that the fourth round of talks with the state govt had failed to yield a breakthrough.