Kolkata commuters are in for a surprise this year. The auto fare hike that typically comes with Durga Puja isn't going away after Dashami. For the first time in recent memory, auto operators across the city have decided to make the increased fares permanent.
The new minimum fare has been set at Rs 12, up from the usual Rs 10. Some routes will charge Rs 11 as their base fare. It's a modest increase, but one that's catching passengers off guard.
"I was surprised when they asked for Rs 2 more even after Dashami," said Mayukh Mukherjee, a Garfa resident. "Usually, things go back to normal after the festival."
Auto union leaders say the decision wasn't taken lightly. According to Gopal Saha, a union leader from south Kolkata, this is only the second fare revision since Covid, and it comes after a four-year gap. The increase affects several major routes including Ruby-Ballygunge Station, Rashbehari-Gariahat, and Behala Chowrasta-Sarsuna.
"We've kept the revision at a minimum," Saha explained. "But we're facing significant costs, especially with vehicle phase-outs. The increase is uniform across the city."
The fare hike isn't just limited to organized routes. On many stretches, drivers have been charging arbitrarily for months. Take the B K Pal Avenue to Burrabazar route, for instance. What should cost Rs 7 or 8 often becomes Rs 14 during peak office hours. When passenger demand drops in the afternoon, some drivers revert to the correct fare. It's a confusing system that leaves commuters frustrated.
Mukherjee raises a valid concern about the lack of regulation. "Just like buses, autos must have a fare regulating body," he said. "I wonder if there will now be new issues with loose change, and arguments are bound to increase."
The situation highlights a larger problem in Kolkata's public transport ecosystem. While auto drivers cite rising operational costs and stagnant fares, commuters feel helpless without a transparent pricing mechanism or regulatory oversight.
Union leaders maintain that costs haven't been revised in years, leaving them with no choice. But for daily commuters already dealing with inflation and rising living expenses, even a Rs 2 increase adds up over time.
As the city adjusts to this new normal, the question remains: will formal regulation follow, or will the system continue to operate on informal agreements between operators? For now, Kolkata's commuters are learning to factor in the higher auto fares into their daily budgets, with or without official approval.
The permanent fare hike marks a shift in how festive-season pricing works in the city, and it might just be the beginning of more changes to come.
