Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has revised autorickshaw fares in the district, raising the minimum fare for the first 1.5 km from Rs 35 to Rs 40.

Under the revised fare structure, passengers will be charged Rs 20 for every kilometre after the initial 1.5 km, up from the existing Rs 17. The new fares will come into effect from Tuesday, said Dakshina Kannada RTA chairman and Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV.

The authority has also specified revised waiting and luggage charges. Passengers will not be charged for the first 10 minutes of waiting. A waiting charge of Rs 5 may be collected for the subsequent 15 minutes.

No luggage fee can be levied for baggage weighing up to 20 kg. For every additional 20 kg, passengers may be charged Rs 5.

For journeys between 10 pm and 5 am, autorickshaw drivers are permitted to collect 1.5 times the fare displayed on the meter, the Deputy Commissioner said.

The decision to revise the fares followed a consultation meeting convened by the RTA on July 9. During the meeting, various organisations and individuals urged the authority to increase autorickshaw fares, citing rising costs of CNG, LPG, diesel, spare parts and other operational expenses.

Autorickshaw drivers had sought a more substantial revision, demanding that the minimum fare be increased from Rs 35 to Rs 50. However, the RTA approved an increase of only Rs 5, taking into consideration the interests and convenience of passengers.

The previous revision of autorickshaw fares in Dakshina Kannada was implemented on October 27, 2022.

Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said a steep increase in fares could inconvenience passengers and encourage commuters to shift to alternative modes of public transport. This, in turn, could adversely affect the earnings of autorickshaw drivers, he noted.

The RTA has directed autorickshaw owners and drivers to have their fare meters recalibrated and sealed in accordance with the revised tariff. They have also been instructed to prominently display the new fare structure inside their vehicles.