Mangaluru: A meeting between the district-in charge minister and auto rickshaw operators in the presence of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Chairman A.B Ibrahim failed to draw a conclusion on the ongoing arguments to reduce auto fares, following the decrease in fuel prices.

A.B Ibrahim, who is also the district deputy commissioner, had convened a joint meeting of auto rickshaw drivers on January 9 to reduce auto fares. Amidst opposition, the DC passed an order to reduce auto fare to Rs. 20 from Rs 25 and Rs 13 from Rs 14 for every additional kms.

However, the auto drivers had argued before the RTA representatives that only the fuel prices have come down and not the cost of living and other expenses.

Subsequently, the auto rickshaw drivers protested against DC’s decision. As a result, there were two meetings with the Mr. Ibrahim, superintendent of Police Sharanappa and RTO Afzal Ahmed Khan. The DC was firm on his decision of reducing fares with statistics of the previous auto fares. RTA efforts as well failed to convince the auto rickshaw drivers.

Soon after, the auto rickshaw drivers in Dakshina Kannada called off their three day bandh, the district in-charge minister promised to solve the case. While, the RTA decided to take legal action, if the auto rickshaw drivers did not follow RTA directions on the reduction of auto fares.

On Sunday, district-in charge minster B. Ramanath Rai and A.B Ibrahim held a meeting with the auto rickshaw drivers. Both, Mr. Ibrahim and auto rickshaw drivers stuck to their stands on the fares. Meanwhile, Mr. Rai failed to convince the both and the meeting drew no consensus.