Patna: Commuters across the state should brace for a steep hike in auto-rickshaw, taxi and mini bus fares. The All India Road Transport Works Association and Bihar Motor Transport Federation have decided to increase fares by 20 per cent, which, they say, would be effective from April 1.

Both associations put up their demand for 20 per cent hike in fares at a meeting chaired by transport commissioner Anupam Kumar on Monday. A committee headed by transport commissioner has to okay the fare hike decision, but those associated with the transport association said even if the committee does not okay their proposal, they would be bound to charge the higher rates because it had become quite impossible for them to continue at the present rates, given rising input costs.

General secretary of the All India Road Transport Works' Association, Raj Kumar Jha, told The Telegraph on Tuesday that their association had put up the demand of 20 per cent hike in fares to the committee led by the transport commissioner at Monday's meeting and that his association would not wait for the committee's nod and the new fare rates would be effective from April 1 itself. "The Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (organisation for state-run buses) put up a demand for 30 per cent hike in fare rates against 20 per cent hike demanded by us," Jha said. "So how can our hike demand be wrong? We are nowhere wrong in asking for a fare hike as there has been rise in prices of daily use commodities besides and we are being wrongly charged on the excuse of illegally parking our vehicles. This apart, there is a 30 per cent rise in price of vehicle parts and a steep rise in diesel and petrol prices. Also, there has been 100 per cent increase in motor insurance premium, 200 per cent increase in fee for vehicle registration, road tax and renewal of certificate for motor vehicle's fitness. All this has increased our input cost exorbitantly. We won't be able to survive if the fare rates are not revised in accordance with rise in input cost."

According to Jha, while auto-rickshaw, mini-buses and taxis were associated with his association, the other association, Bihar Motor Transport Federation, mainly had buses under its purview.

Residents didn't welcome the transport union's decision. "Any hike in fare should be done only after taking the government into confidence. There is no denying that running auto-rickshaw, buses and taxis is a costly affair but there is a government to decide fare rates so that there can be transparency in the system," said Pranav Kumar (45), a banker who resides in Boring Road.

Vibha Kumari (24), a college-goer, said those associated with private transport, mainly auto-rickshaw drivers, were randomly charging fares. "I am not going to say anything about the decision of fare hike by private transport association, but what about auto-rickshaws randomly charging fares," Vibha asked. "For example, a commuter who is supposed to travel from Boring Road to Patna Junction is supposed to cough up Rs 12, but auto-rickshaw drivers charge you the same amount even if you cover half the distance. Why don't transport associations come up with any directive on this?"