An Assessment of the Impact of Auto-Rickshaw Fare Reforms in Chennai

Auto rickshaws are an important mode of intermediate public transport (IPT) in Chennai. They act as a feeder service and are a necessary mode for last mile connectivity that would otherwise be filled by the usage of personal vehicles. The sector has been fraught with quality of service challenges for many years, particularly related to rampant overcharging, bad driver behaviour, and a culture of not using meter-based fares. In August 2013, the Government of Tamil Nadu implemented far-reaching fare reforms for the auto-rickshaw sector in the city, which led to the stipulation of government regulated fares. The objectives of this study were i) to understand the impacts of the reforms, both from the driver and passenger’s perspective, ii) to get insights into the challenges encountered in the process, and iii) develop recommendations for future reform efforts to promote a high quality auto-rickshaw service in the city. The authors relied on primary survey of both commuters and auto-rickshaw drivers and interviewed stakeholders and experts in the field to develop the key findings from this study, which include the following From the passengers’ perspective, a large percentage of respondents reported shifting some trips from other modes to auto-rickshaws. It also impacted their decision on not buying a personal vehicle. From the drivers’ perspective, the fare reform has marginally increased the number of trips and distance travelled by the auto-rickshaw but the average income has reduced. The implementation of meter based fare and the driver’s unruly behaviour continues to be a challenge for the authorities.