MUMBAI: Commuter rights activists and citizens feel the Union government’s plan to raise the non-taxable travel allowance from Rs 800 to Rs 1,600 is a cruel joke for most in a city.

Mumbaikars wonder, after the second round of hikes in BEST fares and amid demands from taxi and auto unions for a fare hike from May, from where the government got the idea of hiking the allowance to a “princely” Rs 1,600.

Transport expert A V Shenoy said, “If you calculate 22 working days, it comes to Rs 72 per day, which does not seem to be reasonable for a metro city. In fact, during the past one year, we have witnessed huge hikes in train fares and two bus fare hikes which have pinched our pockets. The cost of commuting is Rs 120-150 per day, which comes to around Rs 2,600-3,300 per month.”

Commuter rights activist Anmol Bhushan said commuting costs increase due to the distances between office and workplace in Mumbai. “People commute 25-50 km daily one way to reach office and use several modes of transport, be it buses, autorickshaws, taxis, trains or the Metro. Commuting is expensive here, compared to other cities in the country. An allowance of Rs 1,600 cannot work for Mumbaikars ,” he said.

Rucha Kulkarni, who works as an accounts manager in MSL Group , said she has to depend on several modes of transport as per convenience. “During the monsoon, we face frequent train disruptions and delays. I have to switch to road transport, which means travelling by auto from my Thane home to the check naka, from where I switch to another auto to Sion, and then take a cab. It costs me Rs 400-500 on these days. On other days, I have to spend close to Rs 1,000 to travel from home to the station and then take a first class train journey, which costs another Rs 800 a month. A Rs 1,600 allowance makes no sense,” she told TOI.

Rohan E, a Ghatkopar resident said, “The Rs 1600 limit is not ideal for those staying in a city like Mumbai. Those with field jobs have to travel almost 90 km each day by road and train and the cost easily overshoots the limit set by the finance minister.”

Swapani Rane, a Kalyan resident, said, “The conveyance limit should have been at least Rs 2,000 as travel costs keep increasing, especially autorickshaw and bus fares .”

The transport allowance is typically offered to an employee to meet commuting expenses between the place of residence and work. The individual enjoys tax exemption for the amount paid under this head. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said taxation proposals were made keeping in mind needs of middle class tax-payers.

