Pune: 11,000 Auto Rickshaws Complete Meter Calibration After Fare Hike; RTO Adds Testing Centres
Pune, September 23, 2026: Around 11,000 auto rickshaws in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have completed meter calibration following the fare revision that came into effect on September 1. The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has now added testing facilities to speed up the process for the nearly 1.5 lakh autorickshaws covered by the exercise.
Of the 11,000 autorickshaws calibrated so far, around 8,000 are in Pune and 3,000 in Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The revised fares were approved by the Pune Regional Transport Authority on August 3, 2026. The new fare is ₹30 for the first 1.5 km and ₹20 for every additional kilometre. Extra charges apply for late-night journeys and oversized luggage.
Auto drivers have been given six months to complete the mandatory meter calibration. Around 500 to 600 vehicles are currently completing the process every day.
Four testing centres available
Meter testing facilities are now available at four locations:
- Karvenagar: Opposite Alankar Police Station
- Kharadi: Near EON IT Park, opposite Kharadi Police Chowky
- Shivajinagar: Sinchan Nagar, Range Hills Corner
- Ramtekdi: Eagleburg Company, Ramtekdi Industrial Estate, Lane No. 3
The Shivajinagar and Ramtekdi centres became operational on Tuesday, September 22.
The centres will operate from 8 am to 10 am from Monday to Friday and 8 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. They will remain closed on Sundays and government holidays.
Sub-Regional Transport Officer Swapnil Bhosale has asked autorickshaw drivers to visit the nearest centre on working days and get their meters verified.
Passengers report fare confusion
The ongoing calibration has also resulted in differences between fares shown on updated meters and those quoted through other means. Passengers have reported that approved rate cards are not always displayed in autorickshaws, while fares shown on ride-hailing apps can differ from meter readings.
In one instance cited, an app showed ₹242 for a 13-km journey while the calibrated meter showed ₹230. Another commuter reported being asked to pay ₹240 for an 8-km journey that normally cost ₹120-₹130.
The RTO has distributed revised fare charts to autorickshaw unions for drivers to carry and display. An office bearer of a Rickshaw Union, said distributing the charts to around 1.5 lakh drivers was difficult and that union heads were providing them on request. He said the unions had also sought more calibration centres.
