Udupi : Deputy Commissioner G. Jagadeesh said on Thursday that the minimum fare for auto rickshaws in Udupi district had been revised from Rs. 25 to Rs. 30. The revised fares would come into effect on April 1.

He was chairing a meeting on revision of auto rickshaw fares held at the District Offices Complex, here.

Earlier, the leaders of various auto rickshaw unions pointed out that the auto rickshaw fares in the district were last revised in 2014. Since then, vehicle insurance and cost of spares had all increased. Hence, the fares of auto rickshaws should be increased, they urged.

Mr. Jagadeesh agreed to hike the minimum fare to Rs. 30 and the running fare to Rs. 17 per km. But the auto rickshaw operators should compulsorily install flag meters and charge the passengers based on the reading on the flag metres, he said.

It was incumbent on the part of the auto rickshaw operators to behave courteously with the passengers. They should compulsorily follow all traffic rules.

They should not drive their auto rickshaws in the opposite direction on the highways. They should not carry more passengers than specified by the rules, he said. They should compulsorily follow all rules regarding safety while ferrying schoolchildren. Another meeting would be called to clear the confusion with regard to different auto rickshaw zones, Mr. Jagadeesh said.

Superintendent of Police Vishnuvardhana N., Regional Transport Officer Ramakrishna Rai and leaders of various auto rickshaw unions were present.