The Regional Transport Office has officially implemented new fare rates for taxi and rickshaw travel starting February 1. Under the revised rates, the initial fare for the first leg of the journey has increased from Rs 23 to Rs 26 for auto rickshaws.

Following this, passengers will be charged per kilometer for their journey. The standardisation of meters to reflect these new rates commenced from Saturday, 15th February.

Since the implementation of the new rates, there has been some confusion among rickshaw drivers and passengers. While some drivers have begun charging fares according to the updated rates, others continue to charge the old fares due to unmodified meters.

This discrepancy has led to altercations between rickshaw drivers and passengers at various rickshaw stops, as many passengers remain unaware of the fare changes.

Navi Mumbai is home to over 36,000 rickshaws, which operate on a metered fare system. In addition to metered rides, many rickshaws also offer three-seater options. With the new fare structure, passengers using the meter will now need to pay Rs. 26 instead of the previous Rs. 23 for the initial rickshaw fare.

To address the situation, the transport department has initiated the process of updating the meter readings in rickshaws. The changes will be implemented after the company's software is updated.

Deputy Regional Transport Officer Gajanan Gawande has assured that the modifications to the meters of all rickshaws will be completed soon, ensuring a smooth transition to the new fare structure.