brand logo

Tuk-drivers rule out any fare reduction

03 Oct 2022

BY Buwanajee Coralage Despite the reduction of petrol prices last Saturday (1), the All-Island Three Wheeler Drivers and Owners’ Association said it is not possible to reduce the current three-wheeler fares with the weekly quota remaining at five litres per week.  Association President Lalith Dharmasekara, speaking to The Morning yesterday (2), stated that unless the petrol quota is increased to at least five litres per day for six days a week, amounting to 30 litres per week, no considerable change in fares can be made, as three-wheeler drivers are already struggling to make ends meet with their current income. “We ask for the petrol quota to be increased to at least five litres per day for six days a week for operations in this industry. Normally, a three-wheeler consumes six to seven litres per day, with Uber and PickMe drivers using 10 litres and earning Rs. 7,000-8,000 daily. With the petrol restrictions, the industry has almost collapsed, with the drivers having a very hard time balancing their livelihood on the five-litre petrol quota provided to them per week,” said Dharmasekara. Citing statistics that he said could be reassessed through companies like Uber and PickMe, he said that for drivers whose livelihood depends on the industry, their consumption before the restrictions was roughly 6 litres per day, with drivers under companies like Uber and PickMe running upto 250 km daily, consuming 10 litres of petrol.  He emphasised that the association is not asking for petrol at a relief price, but for their quota to be increased so that they can maintain the smooth operation of the industry. “We are willing to ride with a low profit margin only if we are able to ride more, according to fair trade principles. So we are not asking for petrol at a low or concessional price; we just need our fuel quota to be increased so that we can participate in the industry as before,” he said. Moreover, he highlighted that the current unregulated system in the industry has resulted in much passenger dissatisfaction. With different riders charging different rates per kilometre, passengers also face confusion when choosing a three-wheeler to ride, he said. According to the rules and regulations in the industry, it is required for taxis to display that they are in service, as well as the rates they charge, so that passengers can be aware of the fares before accepting the ride, which will provide some sort of relief for passengers. He highlighted that the industry needs to be properly regulated, as it was before the pandemic.


More News..