The stalemate between the UT Administration and air-conditioned cab operators over the reduction in fare continues. While a notification reducing the fare of AC cabs to Rs 13 per kilometre has already been issued, the operators continue to charge the old rate of Rs 15 per kilometre.

“The notification for the reduction of AC cab fare, as per the recommendation of a special committee formed for the purpose, was received this week. The operators should be charging the revised fare,” said Secretary (Transport) Ram Niwas.

The cab operators, however, justify their decision to not effect any change in the fare. “A committee formed by various operators who are running AC cabs in the city is still in the process of meeting the higher authorities and requesting them to reconsider our case,” Manish Dhariwal, director of Mega Cabs, told Newsline.

The stalemate between the Administration and the cab owners has been going on for the last couple of months, ever since fuel prices were reduced across the country.

Senior UT officials said the cab operators had submitted a representation to UT Administrator Gen S F Rodrigues (Retd), urging him to review the decision.

A special committee comprising finance secretary, deputy commissioner and STA secretary has been formed to look into the matter. The cab operators are, meanwhile, planning to submit a representation to the committee too in case they are asked to implement the reduced fare.

“Though the reduction is of only Rs 2 per kilometre, it will badly affect our business, which is already going through a bad phase. We will continue our efforts to try and convince the authorities to allow us to charge the old rates,” added Dhariwal.

The notification regarding a reduction in the fare was issued following a public demand keeping in view the reduction in fuel prices.