Taxis fares hiked

PASSENGERS TO PAY 15% MORE FOR TRAVELLING IN DIESEL CABS AND 24% IN PETROL VEHICLES

GANGTOK, 06 July: The State Transport Authority of the Motor Vehicles Division of the Transport Department, through a Notification issued on 19 June, 2012 [published in today’s edition of this paper] has issued new rate boards for taxis plying in Sikkim. The new rates came into effect on 01 July, 2012. Officials inform that taxi fares have been increased by around 15% for diesel vehicles and 24% for petrol vehicles.
Speaking to NOW! today, the Secretary, Transport Department, Tsegyal Tashi, informed that the last time that taxi fares were increased in Sikkim was in the year 2010.
The Taxi Drivers Association had approached the concerned Minister and Transport Department officials seeking a fare hike some time back as they felt that while fuel prices had been increased several times since 2010, the taxi fares had remained unchanged. The substantial hike in fuel prices and maintenance costs in the interim necessitated a matching hike in passenger fares, they had petitioned.
While fixing the fares, a variety of factors are taken into account, the Secretary explained, adding that they had a formula for this based on which the new fares have been finalised. Factors like the cost of the vehicle, insurance, maintenance costs, spare parts, wear and tear [especially of tyres], cost of fuel, wages of the drivers, all these are taken into account before fixing the rates, he said.
“We also have to strike a balance between fare rates, the taxi drivers and owners and the interest of the general public while fixing the rates because in the end it is the general public that uses the taxis,” he said.
Following the demand of the taxi drivers associations seeking a fare hike, the Motor Vehicles Division had called the All Sikkim Taxi Drivers Association [ASTDA] to discuss the issue on 02 June.
At the meeting, a percentage was fixed by the MVD as per calculations done by it, and based on the principle that commuters were not over burdened even as the interests of taxi drivers and owners were addressed.
The president, Central Joint Action Committee of Local Taxi Drivers Association, Gangtok, informs that the hike proposed by the MVD was accepted unanimously by the association.