Mumbai: With the prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) having increased by Rs 3.44 starting midnight Tuesday, the Mumbai Rickshaw Men’s Union has threatened to stage a protest before Mantralaya in the event the increased price is not rolled back or auto fares are not raised by Rs 1.26 per km within ten days. The Union plans to go on a hunger strike. It will also write a letter urging Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) to withdraw the increased price of CNG till such time the fare hike is approved by the government.
General secretary, Mumbai Rickshaw Men’s Union, Thamby Kurien, said, “We have been demanding increase in fares since the Hakim Committee submitted its report to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA). But no one is paying heed to our demands. Now the increase in CNG prices will increase the burden on auto-rickshaw men.”
Mr Kurien also pointed out that the recommendations of the Hakim committee had been placed before the government since 2015 but the transport minister was yet to give an approval. As per the committee’s recommendations, auto-rickshaw drivers should be paid Rs 1.09 per km of the increase.
Presently, rickshaw drivers charge Rs 12.19 per km, which will now be increased to Rs 13.28 per km if the committee recommendations are implemented by the government. Mr Kurien deman-ded that as CNG prices had increased by Rs 3.44, the fares should be incre-ased by Rs 1.26 per km.
This also means commuters will have to bear the brunt of the CNG hike, with CNG now costing Rs 49.61. There are 1.82 lakh auto-rickshaws in the city.
Mr Kurien said, “I will also write to the principal secretary of the transport department to incre-ase fares as per the revised fuel charge. If the government does not take a decision within 10 days, I will be forced to demonstrate before Mantralaya.”
