In India, rickshaws are the go-to mode of transport for both short and long-distance travel in daily life. Recently, in Bengaluru, the sudden 20% hike in auto fares, effective from August 1, 2025, caused stress to daily commuters. From office goers to students, many are disappointed with the sudden rise in auto fares and are considering carpooling to manage their monthly expenses. Scroll down to know the details.
Bengaluru Auto Fares Hiked By 20%
The Times of India has mentioned that the new rule by the government added fresh stress at the start of the month. The new fares are decided within Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BMTS) limits. For the first 2 km, the fare increased from ₹30 to ₹36; also, the commuters who used to pay an additional ₹15 per km will now have to pay ₹18 per km.
The Times of India also stated how residents reacted to this sudden change. A college-going student said that she asked her parents to increase her monthly allowance. Whereas the officegoers said that if they had public transport near the office, they would never consider taking an auto. To manage their monthly expenses, commuters are also considering carpooling.
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Autodrivers On Strike
On one side, where residents are stressed, union leaders are asking the government to reconsider the price. According to them, the base price should be ₹40 and ₹20 for additional km.
Till May 2025, there are over 3,60,899 registered autorickshaws in Bengaluru. Among these, many are refusing to follow the new fare structure. As per the Hindustan Times reports, during the new fare announcement, many auto drivers went on strike. The Union leaders demanded a higher hike in fares to deal with inflation and operational costs.
Defending the fare price, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy mentioned that the new fare was decided after complete research. The authorities even warned autodrivers and Union leaders to follow the new rules, and failure to comply can lead to losing their permits and vehicle certifications.
According to The Indian Express, before August 1, 2025, the auto fare was revised in November 2021. At that time, the Bengaluru auto fare was raised from ₹25 to ₹30, and for per km, the charge was ₹13, which increased to ₹15. Before 2021, the auto fares were changed in 2013.
The authorities decided to raise the auto fare due to continuous demands from the auto unions. They mentioned that with the old fare, they were not able to manage the higher maintenance costs and inflation.
What is your reaction to this sudden rise in auto fares? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Nikkul