‘More organised sector,new method to calculate fare can resolve dispute’

“Technically,a permit holder is considered to be self-employed,so the government cannot force him to work,” a senior official from the Motor Vehicles Department said.

S Sriraman,professor of Transport Economics at Mumbai University,said the demand for social welfare fund is reasonable. “Their condition could be better if they have structured benefits in terms of health,education and so on,” he said.

The Sharad Rao-led Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union is demanding measures that will help drivers earn at least Rs 25,000 per month. Other demands include issuance of one lakh new permits,permission to enter the main city,a review of fares every January and social welfare benefits.

Currently,the fare is decided on the basis of a formula suggested by the Hakim Committee in 1996. The formula considers the cost of purchasing and maintaining the vehicle,fluctuations in the consumer price index,the running per one kg of compressed natural gas and mileage when autos are running without fares. “The Transport Commissioner has asked me to submit the formula that we have in mind,” Rao said.

He said the formula suggested by the Hakim Committee is very old and the new formula should be more like the one used in Delhi that takes into consideration many more elements that affect an auto driver.

Sriraman said although it is difficult to compare two cities,there is a need to include components,such as interest and depreciation in the formula.

Officials also said the use of electronic meters will automatically reduce cases of faulty meters. The proposal of installing electronic meters in autorickshaws came up in 2007,but is yet to be implemented by the state government.