A consultation meeting would be held at transport commissionerate’s Guindy office on Sept 23. Chennai: Auto fare revision, a long-pending demand of more than three lakh auto drivers statewide, is likely to be delayed further as the transport commissionerate has convened another meeting to record consumer organisations’ representations. One representative from each consumer association can submit recommendations on fee fixation.
Drivers’ unions and consumer organisations submitted representations at a consultation meeting chaired by transport minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban on July 9. Auto drivers plan to rally to the secretariat on Sept 26, demanding immediate fare hike.
T Sadagopan of TN Progressive Consumer Centre said they were not allowed to speak at the July meeting. “We think ₹50 as base fare and ₹20 for subsequent km would be mutually beneficial.” he said. CITU Auto Employees Union’s state working president said, “Holding meetings repeatedly seems to be an excuse to delay the exercise further.”
State govt later formed a fee-committee and held meetings with the drivers’ unions. A separate meeting has now been scheduled with consumer organisations.