Commuters travelling by auto-rickshaw and taxi will have to pay more, with the Delhi government having decided to hike the fares by up to 30 percent, in view of the steep increase in prices of CNG in the last three years.

The last revision of auto-rickshaw and taxi fare was done in June 2010.

“We have decided to hike the fares of auto-rickshaw and taxis as CNG rates have gone up significantly,” Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said after a Cabinet meeting.

Transport minister Ramakant Goswami said the base fare for autos has been raised from Rs 19 for the first two kilometres to Rs 25 while for every subsequent km travellers will have to pay Rs 8 as against the current fare of Rs 6.50.

Those choosing taxis for their travel will have to pay Rs 25 for the first kilometre as against the existing Rs 20.

The charges for every subsequent kilometre will be Rs 14 for non-AC taxis against current rate of Rs 11.

The air-conditioned taxis will charge Rs 16 per subsequent kilometre instead of existing Rs 13.

However, there is no revision of rates for radio taxis. There is also no change in the waiting charges for autos and taxis leaving it at the existing Rs 30 per hour.

Goswami said the new rates are likely to come into effect from Thursday, following issuance of a notification.

The minister said there had been an increase of 39.7 per cent in CNG prices in the last three years from Rs 27.5 per kg to Rs 38.35 per kg.

Various auto-rickshaw and taxi unions have been demanding 50 per cent to 100 per cent hike in tariff due to increase in CNG rates as well as operational cost.

Dikshit said the government will take steps to regulate errant auto-rickshaw drivers and they will be made to ply by fare metre and not overcharge the commuters.

“We will increase our enforcement so that passengers are not harassed by the errant auto drivers,” Dikshit said.

Asked about implementation of government’s decision for mandatory installation of GPS devices in auto-rickshaws, Dikshit said it will be done. “When new technology comes, people do not see the advantage. We are determined to ensure installation of GPS in autos,” she said.

While hiking the fares in June 2010, the government had added a component in the fare to help auto-rickshaw unions meet the expenditure for the GPS installation.

However, the auto unions have been opposing installation of GPS. The Delhi High Court last year had rejected the plea by the auto-rickshaw unions opposing the government’s notification for installation of GPS in the three wheelers.

Officials said the government had studied the auto and taxi fares in various leading cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Ahmedabad before finalising the hike.

Meanwhile, the BJP strongly criticised the government decision to hike auto-rickshaw fares.