Auto and Taxi Base Fares in Thane Set to Rise to ₹27 and ₹33

Commuters in Thane and across the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region will experience an upward revision in auto-rickshaw and black-and-yellow meter taxi fares starting September 1, 2026. The new rate structure was finalized by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority.

Under the revised system, the minimum base rate for auto-rickshaws will increase to ₹27 for the first 1.5 kilometers. For black-and-yellow meter taxis operating within the region, the base fare has been set at ₹33 for the initial 1.5 kilometers. Any travel extending beyond the 1.5-kilometer mark will be calculated based on the updated per-kilometer distance rates.

Transport authorities have urged commuters to remain vigilant during their daily journeys. Thane Regional Transport Officer Hemangini Patil noted that drivers are required to follow recalibration rules before charging the updated fares.

"It is mandatory for every auto and taxi meter to be recalibrated as per regulations before the revised fare rates are applied. Commuters must pay only after checking the meter status or inspecting the official tariff card. If any driver charges rates above the authorized tariffs, citizens should immediately file a complaint against them with the transport authority," Patil said.

Vehicle operators have been granted a three-month transition window, running from September 1 to November 30, 2026, to complete mandatory digital meter recalibrations. During this period, any vehicle that has not yet updated its meter must display an officially approved tariff card issued by the Regional Transport Office to legally collect the new rates.

Deputy Regional Transport Officer Rohit Katkar explained that the revised fare structure was determined after assessing several economic indicators. Key factors included rising vehicle procurement costs, shifts in the Consumer Price Index, and prevailing interest rates on vehicle loans.