Mumbai commuters will have to spend a little more on their daily travel as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority (MMRTA) has approved a fare hike for autorickshaws and black-and-yellow taxis across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The revised fares will come into effect from September 1 in areas including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, Vasai-Virar and Panvel. According to the new fare structure, the minimum autorickshaw fare will increase by Re 1, from Rs 26 to Rs 27 for the first 1.5 km. The minimum taxi fare will rise by Rs 2, from Rs 31 to Rs 33.
The fare revision comes after transport unions demanded an increase, citing rising operational costs such as fuel prices, vehicle maintenance, insurance premiums and permit expenses.
Autorickshaw and taxi operators said that while passenger demand has improved, drivers’ earnings have not increased at the same pace due to growing expenses. Drivers also highlighted the rise in CNG prices as one of the major challenges affecting their daily income.
Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union leader Thampy Kurien said the fare hike was necessary due to increasing costs faced by drivers. Taxi unions had demanded a higher revision, seeking a minimum increase of Rs 4 in the starting fare, but the authority approved a Rs 2 hike.
The latest revision comes after the previous fare hike in February 2025, which was followed by an earlier increase in 2022. Meanwhile, commuter groups have urged authorities to maintain a balance between supporting transport workers and managing the impact of rising travel costs on Mumbai residents.
With around 3 lakh registered autorickshaws and 30,000 taxis operating in Mumbai, the fare hike will impact thousands of daily commuters who rely on these modes of transport for their everyday travel.
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