Explained: Tamil Nadu’s new auto fares, from the ₹50 minimum to night and waiting charges

The Tamil Nadu government has revised autorickshaw fares in Chennai and across the state for the first time since 2013. A gazette notification issued by the Home (Transport) department on Tuesday (27 October) fixes the minimum fare at ₹50 for the first 1.8 km and ₹25 for every kilometre after that.

What were the old fares? Under the 2013 fare order, the minimum was ₹25 for the first 1.8 km and ₹12 for every additional kilometre. Both rates have now roughly doubled.

What about waiting and night travel? Waiting time will be charged at ₹1 a minute. For journeys between 10 pm and 5 am, the fare will be 1.5 times the regular fare.

Are hill routes different? Yes. On ghat roads, the minimum fare is ₹60, or 1.2 times the regular minimum, and each additional kilometre costs ₹30.

What could a ride cost? Going by the notified rates, a 5 km daytime trip would come to about ₹130 (₹50 for the first 1.8 km plus ₹80 for the remaining 3.2 km), against about ₹63 under the old fares. The same trip at night would cost about ₹195. Actual fares will depend on how the meters are set and any waiting time.

Who implements it? The notification was issued under Section 67 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It directs the State Transport Authority and the regional transport authorities to implement the revised fares for contract carriage autorickshaws, and supersedes the fare notifications of 25 August 2013 and 16 October 2014. It was signed by Principal Secretary A Karthik.

Did drivers get what they asked for? Not fully. Auto drivers’ unions had sought a minimum of ₹60 for the first 1.5 km and ₹30 for every kilometre after, citing fuel prices, insurance premiums, maintenance costs and competition from app-based aggregators and bike taxis. Consumer organisations had proposed a ₹50 minimum for the first 1.8 km or 2 km, which is close to what the government has notified.