MUMBAI: State transport officials have said that there will not be any fare hike for autorickshaws till April next year. This will be conveyed to the auto unions and their feedback sought within a week.

A senior transport official said, “As per the Hakim committee, we are supposed to give a fare hike every May. And our calculations, which include cost of living and other factors, indicate that the fare hike should be just 40 paise. Since it is less than the mandatory 50 paise required for a hike, we can assure citizens that there is no question of any further hike in fares till the end of the fiscal year.”

This comes as a relief for commuters at a time when auto unions, like the one led by Sharad Rao, are demanding a fare hike of at least Rs 2.

The state transport ministry on Wednesday also met leaders of eight auto/taxi unions and assured them that the process of issuing 54,000 new permits for autos and 14,000 permits for taxis in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai will begin by the month-end. Of these, 34,000 permits will be allotted to new autos in the eastern and western suburbs of Mumbai.

Said principal secretary (transport) Shailesh Sharma, “By the month-end, we will bring out an order to revive dead permits and allot them, primarily to existing badge holders. It will ensure that there are more autos on the roads and may end the refusal menace.”

Across Maharashtra, a total 94,000 dead auto permits will be revived and allotted to badge holders, sources stated. Those applying for the permits will have to produce a domicile certificate. Sources said the government was also preparing a comprehensive policy on allotting the taxi permits, with a significant number of permits to

be distributed to fleet cab operators.

Said an official, “We also want to encourage the black-and-yellow taxi drivers to form a group and provide radio taxi service in Mumbai. They too can have a common control room, similar to Meru or TabCab , and commuters can call up on a dedicated number to book these ordinary taxis.”