Telangana Auto Drivers JAC has condemned the “double standards” of the TRS government for increasing the bus fares on the pretext of TSRTC incurring losses, but at the same time, it was not bothering about the auto drivers’ just and reasonable demand to increase the auto fares on par with the neighbouring States.
Mohd Amanullah Khan, K. Lakshminarsaiah, M.A. Saleem, D. Ravinder and Mizra Rafath Baig, leaders of the committee, in a joint pressnote pointed out that the main reason for the auto drivers demanding extra fare and refusal to ply as per meter rates was that the existing auto fares Rs 20 minimum and Rs 11 per KM rate was not only “unfair” but also “not based on realities”.
For instance, in Bengalure city, the auto minimum fare is Rs 25 and Rs 13 per KM rate in the last two years. They said the existing auto fares were fixed by then Congress Kiran Kumar Reddy Government in February 2014 i.e two years and four months back. Meanwhile, the prices of essential commodities have been almost doubled and as a consequence, the poor drivers are finding it difficult to maintain their families. Besides, the cost of vehicle operation and particularly the third party vehicle insurance charges have been increased from Rs 2,900 to Rs 4,800 per annum. As such, they demanded that the TRS government increase the auto fares on par with other States without further delay. Otherwise, the auto drivers in the twin cities would be forced to launch agitation shortly, they added. (NSS)