Thiruvananthapuram:
The Kerala government on Thursday decided to revise autorickshaw and taxi fares in the state with immediate effect.
The minimum autorickshaw fare would be Rs 14, up from the present Rs 12, while that for taxis has been hiked from Rs 60 for three kilometres to Rs 100 per 5 kilometres, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
The new rates would come into effect once the order was issued, he added.
Meanwhile, a large number of autorickshaws and taxis in Kerala went off the roads on Thursday, demanding fare revision in the wake of hike in prices of petrol and diesel.
The strike call was given by autorickshaw and taxi workers affiliated to the Joint Action Council of trade unions, comprising CITU, AITUC, BMS STU and UTUC.
They demanded an increase in minimum fare from Rs 12 to Rs 15 for autorickshaws and minimum charge of taxi to be fixed at Rs 100.