Now Reading: Tamil Nadu doubles auto fare after 13 years, minimum now Rs 50
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Tamil Nadu doubles auto fare after 13 years, minimum now Rs 50
The Story in Brief
The Tamil Nadu government has doubled the minimum auto-rickshaw fare to Rs 50 for the first 1.8 km, replacing the Rs 25 rate set in August 2013. The home department (Transport-I) issued the notification on 27 October 2026 under Section 67(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Every additional kilometre will now cost Rs 25, up from Rs 12.
The new rates apply to contract carriage autos across the Chennai Metropolitan Area and the rest of the state. Night travel between 10 pm and 5 am costs 1.5 times the standard fare, while fares on ghat roads start at Rs 60 with Rs 30 per extra kilometre. A waiting charge of Rs 1 per minute has also been introduced. The government acted after years of protests by auto drivers citing rising fuel, insurance and maintenance costs.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The fare hike transfers rising fuel and maintenance costs from auto drivers to passengers, who now face double the minimum fare after 13 years. The notification uses the Motor Vehicles Act, so it is legally in effect and not subject to further approval. The 1.5x night surcharge hits commuters who depend on autos outside standard hours. What remains open is how enforcement will work: the order directs transport officials to implement the new rates, but the source does not name a deadline or penalty for non-compliance. The actual pinch for daily riders depends on how strictly the new structure replaces the informal bargaining that often governs auto fares in Chennai.
Source: businesstoday.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
