Revise autorickshaw fares in tune with fluctuating fuel prices: Madras High Court

Bench orders creation of software to help modify fares in real time to benefit drivers, passengers

In what could be music to the ears of thousands of autorickshaw drivers across the State, the Madras High Court has directed the State Government to revise their fares in view of rising petrol and diesel prices.

Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy have ordered the creation of a mechanism through which the fluctuation in fuel prices could automatically reflect in the determination of autorickshaw fares.

The judges said the government could explore the possibilities of creating a software through which the fares could be revised in real time depending on the rise or fall in fuel prices, so that not only the drivers benefit but also the passengers.

The directions were issued while disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate S.V. Ramamurthy for implementation of a 2013 Government Order relating to the installation of fare metres in all autorickshaws.

Advocate General (A-G) R. Shunmugasundaram told the court that electronic metres had been installed in all autorickshaws and that periodical checks were also being conducted to penalise those who had not fixed such metres.

The government was also working on equipping the metres with a global positioning system (GPS). The A-G, however, said the fare metres had not been attached with printers to provide receipts, because they were a bit expensive.

On the other hand, the petitioner complained to the court that the autorickshaw drivers invariably demanded higher charges than what was due to them, and the government should devise a mechanism similar to Ola & Uber.