Key Highlights
- The march: Auto unions will hold a candlelight march from Egmore to Fort St George on Tuesday evening.
- Main demand: Revision of auto meter fares, last revised in 2013.
- Rising costs: Fuel, insurance and spare parts have all become costlier since then.
- Competition: Unions cite app aggregators’ surge pricing, bike taxis, the Metro and free bus travel for women.
- Other demands: A government-backed auto app, regulation of bike taxis and action on alleged RTO corruption.
Auto-rickshaw drivers in Chennai will hold a candlelight march from Egmore to Fort St George, the seat of the state government, on Tuesday evening. Organised by the Federation of All Auto Trade Unions, the march seeks a revision of auto fares and action on drivers’ concerns.
The march will also pay tribute to Mohamed Ibrahim, a 61-year-old driver from Vyasarpadi, who had released a video urging Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to raise auto fares before he died by suicide.
Thirteen Years Without a Fare Hike
S. Balasubramaniam, the federation’s coordinator, said the government last revised auto fares in 2013. Since then, drivers have continued to operate under the same structure, even as fuel prices, insurance premiums and spare-parts costs have risen.
He also alleged that drivers had faced harassment from transport officials and police over meter enforcement during earlier fare revisions.
What the Unions Want
| Demand | Why |
|---|---|
| Revised meter fares | To match the current cost of running an auto |
| A government-backed auto app | To compete with private aggregators |
| Regulation or ban of bike taxis | Unions say they cut into auto demand |
| Action on RTO corruption | To ease delays, including in fitness certificates |
Why It Matters: Squeezed From Every Side
The drivers’ problems go beyond fares. Unions point to several changes that have cut demand: the expansion of Chennai Metro, free bus travel for women, and the rapid growth of bike taxis. At the same time, app-based platforms such as Ola, Uber and Rapido can charge higher fares through surge pricing, while independent drivers remain bound by meter rates fixed 13 years ago.
The result, unions say, is a profession many can no longer afford to stay in. Several drivers have left the trade for other work, the federation said, as household expenses and medical bills mount. Any fare revision will need to balance drivers’ survival with affordability for passengers who depend on autos daily.
What’s Next
The unions have urged the government to respond quickly, warning that delays could deepen hardship for drivers’ families. The state government has not yet publicly responded to the demands.
The Bottom Line
For Chennai’s auto drivers, a fare frozen since 2013 has become a question of survival. Tuesday’s march is their attempt to make sure that message reaches the government.
With inputs from IANS.