Quick guide to new auto fares

click here to print revised fare

click here

On August 1, new auto fares came into effect in the city, with the minimum fare being Rs 17 and an extra Rs 9 for every additional kilometer. The previous revision of fares was in February 2008, when the minimum fare was increased from Rs 12 to Rs 14, and the charge per extra kilometre was increased from Rs 6 to Rs 7.

The deadline for auto drivers to install the new digital meters is September 30. Till then, it is mandatory for autorickshaw drivers to use the approved fare conversion charts issued by the respective Regional Transport Officers. Even though Transport Department officials said that the chart is available only to auto drivers, on checking at the Koramangala RTO, Citizen Matters found that the chart is available to the public also for free. Some auto rickshaw unions are also dispensing the charts to drivers. No arrangement seems to have been made for changing the fare charts at pre-paid auto stands.

The new fare will be in effect for the next two years and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will review it only if fuel cost exceeds Rs 50 per litre.

Latlong, a local search engine service, now gives information on old and new auto fares in addition to their pre-existing service of giving directions to different locations. To get directions and auto fare from one part of the city to another, SMS GO TO to 9008890088.

For instance, if you want to get the directions and auto fare from Koramangala BDA Complex to MG Road, SMS ‘Go Koramangala bda to mg road’.

This would be the reply SMS:

Dist: 5.6 Km

(aprox. Auto fare: Old – Rs 39, New – Rs 49)

>> Koramangala BDA Complx(1) >> HAL Airport Rd(2) >> Trinity Circle(3) >> MG Road

Reply 2 for detailed route from ‘ASC Jn’

Or click http://llmob.in/d/3762276

The team at BTIS (Bangalore Transport Information System), another search service, has also updated their services according to the new fare. The BTIS site gives distance and corresponding auto fare between two locations. Airtel subscribers can get the same information on mobile by SMSing their query to 52225 in the format BTIS ROUTE .

For example, to find the direction and auto fare from Koramangala to Jakkur, the SMS format is ‘BTIS Route kora jakr’. The area codes are available in the website.

Another service called Suruk provides a ‘digital meter’ which uses GPS (Global Positioning System) to give the duration, tariff and distance of a trip in real time. Commuters can compare the auto’s meter fare with that given by the application. Citizen Matters has not tested and verified this application independently.

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