Auto-rickshaw fares across Tamil Nadu have been substantially increased following a government decision to double the minimum charge from ₹25 to ₹50. The revised rates update a pricing structure that had remained unchanged since August 2013, directly responding to long-standing demands from auto-rickshaw driver unions across the state.
Under the new fare structure, the minimum charge of ₹50 covers the first 1.8 kilometers of travel, with subsequent distance billed at ₹25 per kilometer compared to the previous rate of ₹12. Waiting charges are now set at ₹1 per minute, while night travel between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM will incur a 50% surcharge on standard fares. For hill routes, the base fare has been set at ₹60 for the initial 1.8 kilometers and ₹30 for each subsequent kilometer.
The fare revision comes after Transport Minister A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban assured unions that updated rates would be introduced ahead of Diwali. Drivers cited steep increases in fuel prices, insurance premiums, and vehicle maintenance costs, alongside intense competition from app-based taxi services, as key factors behind the necessity for higher tariffs. The new regulations will apply to approximately 346,000 auto-rickshaws operating across Tamil Nadu, with strict meter usage expected to be enforced.
