Passengers using prepaid autorickshaw services from key transit points in Kochi will now have to pay more. After a gap of nearly five years, the Motor Vehicles Department has approved a fare revision for prepaid autos operating from Ernakulam Town and Ernakulam Junction railway stations, as well as the KSRTC bus depot. The new rates are scheduled to come into effect later this week.
Details of the Revised Fare Structure
The increase ranges between Rs 10 and Rs 20, varying according to the destination. For example, the fare from Ernakulam Town station to Padma has been raised from Rs 40 to Rs 50. Similarly, the charge for a trip from Town station to Fort Kochi has been revised upwards from Rs 260 to Rs 280. However, authorities have retained the minimum fare of Rs 30 for distances up to 1.5 kilometers.
The hike follows a formal request from the autorickshaw drivers' associations. Officials cite the unique operational challenges faced by prepaid autos, which must adhere to fixed rates and cannot refuse short-distance passengers. "With prepaid autos coming directly under our monitoring, they have to operate at a fixed rate, which they cannot increase as per their whims and fancies," explained a senior police officer.
Challenges Behind the Fare Hike
Drivers argue that the revised fares are still insufficient. They point to increased operational costs due to one-way traffic systems, which force them to cover extra kilometers. A driver highlighted the financial strain: "The fixed prepaid fare from Ernakulam Junction railway station to Vyttila Junction was Rs 60. If we used the meter, it would show around Rs 80 for the same distance. That's why we demanded a hike. Even this hike is not profitable for us."
Additional burdens include the cost of mandatory permits. An auto driver must pay over Rs 2,000 for a six-month cart licence issued by the railways and spend an extra Rs 850 annually for a police clearance certificate. These regulatory costs, introduced post-pandemic to ensure accountability, have added to the drivers' financial pressure.
A Service in Decline
Despite the fare increase, the prepaid auto service in Kochi is witnessing a significant drop in participation. Before the pandemic, around 530 autos operated from the prepaid counter at Ernakulam Junction railway station. That number has now plummeted to less than 200.
A railway official noted the shift in passenger preference: "It will be good if more autos are available at the station. But what we see nowadays is that most passengers prefer to hire online taxis/autos instead of resorting to prepaid ones at the station." Drivers also state that operating during heavy traffic congestion often turns into a loss-making venture due to the fixed fare structure, making the service less attractive compared to app-based alternatives.
The fare revision aims to provide some relief to the struggling prepaid auto sector, but it remains to be seen if it will be enough to revive the dwindling service and meet the needs of both commuters and drivers in Kerala's commercial capital.
