Pune's Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has cleared a revised fare structure for auto-rickshaws, introducing a 25% night surcharge for trips undertaken between midnight and 5 AM and a flat ₹3 fee for luggage. The decision, which aligns Pune with several other metropolitan regions that have moved to time-based pricing for paratransit services, is intended to balance passenger affordability with driver earnings during low-demand hours.
Under the new tariff, all auto-rickshaw meters in the city will have to be recalibrated to reflect the revised fares by February 28, 2027. The RTA has issued temporary tariff cards to drivers and operators to ensure that commuters are charged the correct fare during the transition window. These cards will remain valid until the same February 2027 deadline, after which only recalibrated meters will be treated as compliant.
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The move comes amid persistent complaints from auto drivers in Pune about thin margins during late-night operations, when demand is irregular and fuel costs disproportionately eat into earnings. Transport department officials argue that a time-based surcharge incentivises drivers to remain available for late-shift workers, medical emergencies and early-morning rail and air travellers, a demographic that has grown with Pune's expanding IT corridors and outbound rail traffic.
For commuters, the practical change will be modest but visible: a short late-night ride will now cost noticeably more than the same distance during daytime hours, and a separate line item for luggage will appear on the fare. The RTA has signalled that enforcement against overcharging will continue alongside the recalibration exercise, with meter tampering and refusal of service remaining prosecutable offences under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Auto unions in Pune have welcomed the night surcharge but are expected to seek clarity on the calibration timeline and the logistics of getting thousands of meters inspected and certified before the February 28, 2027 cutoff. The transport department has indicated that authorised calibration centres will be set up across the city to handle the volume without long queues for drivers.
