Autorickshaw fares in Pune are set to rise, with unions pressing for an immediate revision, citing soaring CNG prices and mounting financial pressure on drivers.
Union Demands Fare Revision
On Monday, a delegation from Rickshaw Panchayat, the city's largest autorickshaw union, met Pune RTO officials and demanded a fare hike in line with the formula prescribed by the Khatua Committee. The fare revision is calculated according to a fixed formula, and the current CNG prices are becoming difficult for drivers to absorb, according to Rickshaw Panchayat general secretary Nitin Pawar.
CNG supplied by MNGL in Pune city costs Rs 93.75 per kg, while Torrent Gas charges Rs 96.50 per kg in rural areas. Autorickshaw fares in Pune were last revised in early 2025 and currently stand at Rs 25 for the first 1.5 km and Rs 17 for every subsequent kilometre.
Discussion Expected This Week
Pawar said the proposal is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), headed by the Pune collector, later this week. RTO officials have assured that the demand will be placed before the RTA, and a decision is expected by the end of the week.
The union has also sought immediate implementation of the revised fares once approved. According to Pawar, the mandatory recalibration of meters after every fare revision often delays enforcement. They have requested a rate card so passengers and drivers can calculate the revised fare without waiting for meter recalibration. An approved mobile application can also serve the purpose.
Impact on Drivers and Commuters
More than one lakh autorickshaws operate in Pune, while Pimpri Chinchwad has around 45,000. Azad Rickshaw Chalak Sanghatna president Shafiq Patel said a fare increase had become inevitable, as drivers are already struggling with rising operational costs.
The proposed hike is likely to add to the burden on commuters already grappling with rising household expenses. Residents expressed concern, with one private sector employee saying salaries are not rising, companies are talking about layoffs, and everyday expenses keep going up. A homemaker from Pimpri echoed the concern, noting that fuel prices have gone through the roof, making it difficult for middle-class families to make ends meet.
RTO Employees Strike
Meanwhile, RTO employees across the state will go on a token one-day strike on Tuesday and begin an indefinite strike from June 16. The agitation is likely to affect several transport-related services for residents. Office-bearers of the RTO Employees Association said several issues, including the cancellation of promotions for 56 employees, remain unresolved. They added that the fourth round of talks with the state government had failed to yield a breakthrough.
