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Tamil Nadu Cuts Auto Fares, Revises Night Rates

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 10:13 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Tamil Nadu government revised autorickshaw fares statewide after 13 years.
The revision was notified on October 27 via Government Order No. 366.
Minimum fare is Rs 50 for 1.8 km, then Rs 25 per kilometre.
Night trips between 10 pm and 5 am cost 1.5 times the regular fare.
Principal Secretary A Karthik issued the order under the Motor Vehicles Act, directing authorities to replace 2013-14 notifications.

Summary

Auto drivers’ unions pressed for a Rs 60 minimum fare and Rs 30 per kilometre, citing fuel and insurance costs.
Consumer organisations advocated a Rs 50 base fare for the first 1.8 km, matching the government’s final figure.
Transport Minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban promised fare revisions before Deepavali in response to driver protests.
Drivers said competition from app-based aggregators and bike taxis contributed to the fare-hike demand.

History

In 1995, India deregulated petroleum product prices under the Economic Liberalisation, causing diesel to jump from Rs 12 to Rs 15 per litre, a 25 % rise. The change, announced by Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, triggered a 30 % surge in auto-rickshaw operating costs across major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Today, Tamil Nadu’s 2024 fare revision—ordered by A Karthik and A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban—mirrors 1995 cost pressures, with drivers demanding Rs 60 minimum fares. The precedent shows that periodic fare adjustments, rooted in fuel price shocks, become institutionalized, prompting future state governments to embed cost-indexing mechanisms in transport policy.

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Historical Context

In 1995, India deregulated petroleum product prices under the Economic Liberalisation, causing diesel to jump from Rs 12 to Rs 15 per litre, a 25 % rise. The change, announced by Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, triggered a 30 % surge in auto-rickshaw operating costs across major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Today, Tamil Nadu’s 2024 fare revision—ordered by A Karthik and A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban—mirrors 1995 cost pressures, with drivers demanding Rs 60 minimum fares. The precedent shows that periodic fare adjustments, rooted in fuel price shocks, become institutionalized, prompting future state governments to embed cost-indexing mechanisms in transport policy.

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