Autorickshaw drivers stage a protest on Anna Salai in Chennai on Wednesday
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
A section of commuters in Chennai were affected by the strike called by various autorickshaw trade unions on Wednesday (March 19, 2025), putting forth their demands, including the revision of auto fares.
While a group of auto trade unions under the banner of Tamil Nadu Auto, Call Taxi Drivers Association Federation staged a protest at Rajarathinam stadium in Egmore, another group, Federation of Tamil Nadu All Auto Trade Unions, held a demonstration outside the Chennai Collectorate.
A large number of auto drivers took part in the protest, leading to heightened tension at both locations. T.A. Zahir Hussain, president of the Tamil Nadu Auto, Call Taxi Drivers Association Dederation, said it has been more than a decade since the auto fares were revised by the State government, and despite the promises made by Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar, no steps have been taken in this regard.
In a memorandum submitted to the State government, the union also urged the Transport and Road Safety Commissioner to take action against the operation of bike taxis run by certain transport aggregators. Bikes, which are supposed to be used as personal vehicles, are being unauthorisedly used for commercial purposes, and such taxis should be banned, the union said.
G. Panneerselvam, office-bearer of the Federation of Tamil Nadu All Auto Trade Unions, said though autorickshaws have become costly and petrol prices are high, the State has not revised the auto fares since 2013. He said the auto drivers’ union wants the government to either regulate the operation of transport aggregators, which charge heavy commission of up to 25% of the earnings of auto and cab drivers, and also prevent the misuse of white-board vehicles, which are being used as commercial vehicles.
The auto drivers’ unions were also against the QR code system recently launched by the Greater Chennai Police, which ensures real-time monitoring of their vehicles. They also wanted the immediate rollout of the transport app created by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA).
S. Arun, a resident of Adambakkam, said that owing to the strike, he was forced to shell out more than ₹150 for a two-kilometre ride to the Alandur Metro station during the peak hours on Wednesday morning.
Published – March 19, 2025 02:25 pm IST