Tamil Nadu revises autorickshaw fares after 13 years with Rs 50 minimum rate

The Tamil Nadu government has updated autorickshaw fares across the state for the first time in 13 years, setting the minimum fare at Rs 50 for the first 1.8 kilometres to ensure fair compensation for transport workers and establish predictable urban mobility rates.

Under the revised structure notified by the Home Department under Government Order Ms. No. 366, passengers will pay Rs 25 for every additional kilometre travelled beyond the initial 1.8 kilometres. The order, signed by Principal Secretary A Karthik under Section 67(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, applies to contract carriage autorickshaws operating in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and all other districts.

Key changes in autorickshaw fare structure

The revision supersedes previous state notifications issued in August 2013 and October 2014, establishing clear guidelines for night travel, waiting times, and hill routes.

For hilly terrains and ghat routes, the base fare has been set at Rs 60—calculated at 1.2 times the minimum rate—with an additional charge of Rs 30 per kilometre. Night rides between 10 pm and 5 am will carry a surcharge of 1.5 times the standard fare, while waiting fees are standardized at Rs 1 per minute.

Drivers welcome rationalised transit pricing

Transport unions and driver associations across Tamil Nadu welcomed the move, pointing out that static meter rates since 2013 had created severe income imbalances against rising vehicle maintenance and fuel expenses. Suresh Kumar, an auto driver operating from Alangulam, said the revised official rates would remove ambiguity and ensure transparent transactions between drivers and commuters.

CITU auto union district treasurer Kanagavel noted that establishing updated official fares provides long-term stability for thousands of families reliant on the unorganised transport sector. Union representatives also suggested introducing an annual fitness certificate subsidy to further consolidate operational support for commercial auto drivers.

While opposition figures including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran questioned separate pricing adjustments for state dairy by-products ahead of Deepavali, transport operators emphasised that the long-overdue auto fare revision represents a crucial step toward modernising Tamil Nadu's local transit framework.