Chennai: Madras High Court was today informed that the transport department has taken a decision not to increase autorickshaw fares for the time being.
The counter affidavit filed by Transport Commissioner Sathyabrata Sahoo stated that several factors are required to be taken into account for the purpose of revising the fare like fuel price, driver salary, maintenance cost, replacement of tyres cost of vehicle, depreciation and major repairs.
To ascertain these factors it was necessary that all stakeholders be consulted and their views taken before fares are revised.
Sahoo said that considering all these facts,it may not be appropriate to revise the fares only on the basis of revision of fuel cost.
When the matter came up before the First bench,comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Satyanarayana on a PIL by ‘Coimbatore Consumer Voice’, an affidavit to the above effect was filed by the transport Department.
The bench had directed authorities concerned to consider revising fares in accordance with changes in fuel price. Moreover,the revision would result only in a narrow difference ranging from 50 paise to Rs 1, the counter pointed out.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing to April 11,2016.