Metro excuse used to raise auto fares

The autorickshaw drivers moan about increasing prices, kids’ fees and now ‘future threat to their income’ while demanding extra money. Though fuel prices have been going down, the ‘self decided’ autorickshaw fares continue to go up in the city. Autorickshaws do not follow the price chart or go by meters.

“I have encountered various excuses right from ‘just asking for Rs 20 extra’, ‘it is late’, ‘there is traffic on that route’ to ‘Metro will kill us’ of late,” said Srilekha V., a hospital employee in the city.

With Metro works in full swing in the city, autorickshaw drivers are anticipating a drop in revenues given the fact that Metro will be cheaper than their rates for almost all stretches.

“Once the Metro starts, our business will go down drastically as no one will want to pay Rs 80 to Rs 100 to travel from Secunderabad to Somajiguda. Even now, our rates are less, given the increase in prices; Still we only ask for Rs 10 to Rs 20 over the meter,” said Ramaiah, an autorickshaw driver.

While drivers come up with these excuses, the drivers’ unions do not paint a very grim picture, saying that the impact might be more on RTC buses. “Autorickshaws are able to reach lanes and by-lanes of the entire city. Once the Metro comes in, autorickshaws will serve as a major feeder service. The same goes for MMTS trains. Also, people travelling with luggage, kids or elderly people, will prefer autorickshaws,” said All-India trade Union Council general secretary B. Venkatesham.

“There will be a 10 per cent impact on the long-distance stretches, but autorickshaws will still be the main mode of transport. However, we need to be given big parking spaces near Metro stations, to be able to operate effectively,” said Sathi Reddy of the Auto Unions’ Samakhya.