Tamil Nadu hikes auto fares to Rs 50 for first 1.8 kilometres

Tamil Nadu has doubled the minimum auto-rickshaw fare from Rs 25 to Rs 50 for the first 1.8 kilometres, following a government notification issued by Principal Secretary A. Karthik. Under the revised rates, passengers must pay an additional Rs 25 for every subsequent kilometre. The State Transport Authority and Regional Transport Authorities have been directed to enforce these new fares across various parts of the state, including the metropolitan area, affecting nearly 3.46 lakh auto-rickshaws. The previous rates were set in August 2013, making this the first fare revision in 13 years.

Additional Fares And Rules

The updated pricing structure introduces specific charges for waiting time, night travel, and hilly regions. The waiting charge is now set at Re 1 per minute, replacing the old rate of Rs 3.50 for five minutes. For night travel between 10 PM and 5 AM, drivers can charge one and a half times the normal fare. In hilly areas, the minimum charge is fixed at Rs 60, with an extra Rs 30 for each additional kilometre. Transport Minister A. Vijay Thamizhan Parthiban had earlier assured unions that the revision would happen before Deepavali.

Context

Auto fare revisions typically happen after long gaps when operating costs like fuel, insurance, and vehicle maintenance increase significantly over time. These adjustments also account for competition from app-based taxi services that affect daily earnings for traditional auto drivers. The state government replaces older gazette notifications from 2013 and 2014 to implement these updated fare structures legally.