At a joint press conference addressed by office bearers of the Bombay Autorickshawmen Union and the Mumbai Taximen Union, the office bearers felt that there was no need to increase the petrol price to earn a meagre Rs 790 crore. Speaking on the occasion, union leader Sharad rao called for an increase in minimum charge of autorickshaws from Rs 7 to Rs 8 and that of taxis from Rs 11 to Rs 12. He justified his demands saying that the increase in insurance premium, taxes and consumer price index called for an increase in fares.

He claimed that though talks between the unions and the Regional Transport Authority are in progress, a lot of confusion continues to hamper any real progress as the unions are seeking clarification on the actual increase inprice of petrol in the state.

According to the union Finance Ministry, the vehicle owner will be charged only one rupee extra per litre of petrol. But the increase of petrol price in Maharashtra is Rs 1.28, the 28 paise being the excise tax collected by the state government.

``The issue remains, who is responsible for this 28 paise?'' said Rao. Any proposal regarding increase in auto and taxi fares will depend on how this is solved. ``The Government of India can decrease the petrol rates instead of increasing it, if it controls the adulteration of petrol,'' Rao said. He also asked petrol pumps to refund the extra amount charged on the taxi and auto drivers on Tuesday, on production of the bill for the same.