The Maharashtra Transport Minister announced on Monday that prepaid autorickshaw services will be launched at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Terminals T1 and T2 starting June 1, 2025. This move is in order to protect passengers from fare exploitation.

The decision comes after years of complaints from travellers about unscrupulous auto drivers overcharging, refusing meters, and demanding fares as high as ₹500-₹1,000 for short distances. This new system asserts transparency, fixed fares, and a secure journey, addressing the long-standing grievances of passengers. With surveys underway for prepaid autorickshaw routes outside airports, this initiative is set to transform the commuting experience for travellers.

Sarnaik held a meeting with Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, airport authorities, and union representatives to finalise the plan. While permissions from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority and infrastructure setup by the Adani Group, which manages CSMIA, are pending, officials expect all preparations, including rate card finalisation, to be completed by May 2025.

Former MP Gajanan Kirtikar, who has long advocated for prepaid auto stands, highlighted that the proposal was first approved in 2008 but never implemented. Autorickshaw unions have also proposed that the newly-formed Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Welfare Corporation operate the stands to ensure transparency and direct revenue for driver welfare initiatives.