Now Reading: Tamil Nadu hikes auto fares after 13 years, minimum Rs 50
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Tamil Nadu hikes auto fares after 13 years, minimum Rs 50
The Story in Brief
After keeping autorickshaw fares unchanged for 13 years, the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, notified a revised fare structure. The minimum charge is now Rs 50 for the first 1.8 km and Rs 25 for every additional kilometre.
The Home (Transport-I) Department issued the notification in an extraordinary edition of the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, directing the State Transport Authority and regional transport authorities to implement the revised rates under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Night travel between 10 pm and 5 am will cost 1.5 times the regular fare, and waiting charges are Re 1 per minute. For ghat roads, the base fare is Rs 60 and the additional charge Rs 30 per km.
The revision replaces the 2013 structure of Rs 25 for 1.8 km and Rs 12 per subsequent km. The Madras High Court had directed the state in February 2022 to revise fares. The government examined competing demands from drivers' unions and consumer groups before notifying the new rates.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The 13-year freeze on auto fares had been a source of tension between drivers, who cited rising fuel and maintenance costs, and passengers, who sought affordability. The new rates represent a 100% increase in the minimum charge and more than double the per-kilometre rate. Drivers' unions had demanded even higher fares, while consumer groups had pressed for lower ones, so the notified structure is a compromise that leaves both sides partly unsatisfied. The next step is enforcement by the State Transport Authority and regional transport authorities under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Source: dtnext.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
