Title - Fleet taxi fares may go up by Rs 4 - The Times of India

MUMBAI: It is not only ordinary taxis and autos which will benefit from a fare hike if the Hakim committee recommendations are accepted by the government. The fares for Cool Cabs and fleet taxis are also set to increase by Rs 4 subsequently, sources said.

The present fare for Cool Cabs is Rs 21 and it is likely to increase to Rs 25, while fleet taxi fares may rise from Rs 24 to Rs 28, the sources stated.

"Travelling in Mumbai will certainly become expensive if the government approves the recommendations of the Hakim panel report and announces a fare hike in a few weeks," said a senior transport official. He stated that the report is now uploaded on the transport commissioner's website. "We will invite suggestions from unions, consumer activists and commuters before deciding what to accept and what to reject," the official stated.

In his report, former Union secretary P M A Hakim mentioned: "The Cool Cab fares should be maintained at 25% of the ordinary taxi fare."So , if taxi fares are increased from Rs 17 to Rs 20, the Cool Cab fare will automatically be hiked to Rs 25 for the minimum distance.

Fleet taxi operators like Meru had made a representation to the Hakim committee and demanded not only an increase in fares, but also increase in waiting time charges and making the minimum distance 5 km. In his report, Hakim observed, "Representatives of fleet taxi operators have made a representation to the committee that the fare structure applicable to their services should also be revised as they are not able to meet all costs with the existing fare structure. This does not form part of the terms of reference of the committee. It is, however, expected that once the fare structure for ordinary taxis is revised, the government would consider revising the fare structure applicable for fleet taxi services also."

Sources said the basic fare for fleet cabs could go up from Rs 24 to Rs 28 and the night charges from Rs 30 to Rs 35.

Prepaid cabs: Service charge?

Somit Sen

MUMBAI: Service charges for prepaid taxis at the domestic/ international airports and outside stations like Mumbai CST, Dadar, Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus and LTT may be hiked by at least Rs 5, if the recommendations of the Hakim committee report are accepted by the government.

The report said: "The service charges payable now are Rs 10 for ordinary prepaid taxis and Rs 15 for prepaid Cool Cabs that operate from airports. It is proposed to increase this uniformly to Rs 20 for services from airports and to Rs 15 for services from other places, like railway stations."

Hakim found that additional fares payable as per the prepaid tariff chart (depending on distance) were not uniform in respect of services operated from the two airports and therefore needed rationalization. The committee has proposed a new fare structure for prepaid cabs in Mumbai.