Patna, Jan. 16: You may soon have to shell out more to travel by autorickshaws in the city. Frequent hikes in the price of petrol have left no other option for the autorickshaw owners but to increase the fare.

Bihar State Auto Chalak Sangh (BSACS) general secretary Rajkumar Jha has given the price hike proposal to transport secretary Uday Singh Kumawat.

The decision is likely to be in the favour of Bihar State Auto Chalak Sangh. In that case, passengers would end up paying at least Re 1 more for each kilometre travelled.

Autorickshaws at presnt charge Rs 3 for the first kilometre and Rs 1 for each kilometre travelled thereafter.

Meanwhile, various autorickshaw unions have threatened to strike work from Monday if the government failed to revise autorickshaw fares.

The BSACS general secretary said: “There is a frequent increase in the price of petrol that we cannot cope with. The annual operational and maintenance cost of an autorickshaw has also gone up from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. As the cost of an autorickshaw has risen, from where would we get the money now? We cannot sustain ourselves on the present income we earn at present.”

He added: “There are around 15,000 autorickshaws running on petrol in the city and the price of petrol has increased to more than Rs 60 per litre, we can’t afford such expensive petrol, we can’t go to the Centre and request the government to lower the price but we can at least tell our government. That is why tomorrow our delegation is going to meet the trans- port secretary and a positive response would surely come out.

Navin Mishra, an autorickshaw driver, said: “For the past many years, we have been charging the same rate but that is not possible now. If the government does not hike the fare of autorickshaws, we will go on a strike. Our demand is genuine and we are not demanding much, just an increase of Re 1 on the total fare.”

But the office-goers, who are dependent on autorickshaws to commute to office and back home, are worried over the hike in autorick- shaw fare.

Some people felt three-wheelers would no longer be affordable for the common man.

Rashmi Kumari, who takes an autorickshaw from her home in Raja Bazaar to Gandhi Maidan everyday, said she would not be happy if there was a hike in autorickshaw fares.

“This would be an outrageous decision. Already, we are paying more for power, gas and everything else. Now, the government wants us to pay more for autorickshaw rides. With this, I have to spend around Rs 100 extra every month on commuting. I don’t understand why the government does not lower the price of petrol instead of increasing autorickshaw fares.”

Ramesh Gupta, a resident of Patna City, had a similar tale to tell. He travels from Patna City to Karbhigaiya end for his work by auto- rickshawand said his commuting expenses would go up quite a bit.

“I travel by an autorickshaw because it’s more comfortable than buses. I spend around Rs 25 everyday on autos. Now, I have to spend an extra Rs 5 everyday. Usually, autorickshaw drivers demand the fares according to their whims and fancies. This prposed increase would surely affect us badly and it was not necessary.”

He added: “I fail to understand why the government does not make it mandatory for all autorickshaws to run on meter as in other metropolitan cities. Hike in prices of cooking gas and onions have already shaken our household budget. Now, a hike in autorickshaw prices will further inconvenience us”.

Existing auto fare

• Gandhi Maidan to Patna City Chowk — Rs 12
• Gandhi Maidan to Kurji Hospital — Rs 7
• Patna Juntion to Gandhi Maidan — Rs 5
• Income Tax Golambar to Raja Bazaar — Rs 8
• Boring Road to Patna Junction — Rs 8