Pune, 30th July 2026: Travelling by auto-rickshaw in the city is likely to become more expensive, as the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has accepted the fare revision proposal submitted by auto-rickshaw unions.
The proposal will now be placed before the Regional Transport Committee for final approval. Once approved by the committee, headed by Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, the revised fares will come into effect across the city.
Auto-rickshaw unions had requested a fare revision, citing a sharp increase in CNG and conventional fuel prices due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.
According to the unions, the rising operating costs have made it difficult for drivers to sustain their earnings under the existing fare structure. Taking these concerns into account, the Pune RTO prepared a revised fare proposal and forwarded it to the Regional Transport Committee.
Under the proposal, the minimum fare for the first 1.5 kilometres will increase from ₹25 to ₹30. After the initial distance, passengers will pay ₹20 per kilometre, up from the current ₹17 per kilometre. If approved, this will be the first fare revision in Pune after a significant gap.
The proposed fare hike is expected to affect lakhs of Punekars who rely on auto-rickshaws every day. Office-goers, school and college students, women, and those using autos for last-mile connectivity are likely to see an increase in their daily travel expenses.
The ₹5 increase in the base fare and ₹3 rise per additional kilometre could substantially raise commuting costs for regular passengers.
Pune has an estimated 1.3 lakh auto-rickshaws, making it one of the city's primary public transport options alongside PMPML buses. Together, these auto-rickshaws serve around 20 lakh passenger trips every day, highlighting their crucial role in Pune's urban mobility system.