Hyderabad: There is a growing problem with cab drivers at the interstate border of Hyderabad. Due to a lack of monitoring by transport officials, some cab drivers are changing the number plates on their vehicles to avoid paying taxes. They replace plates from other states with ‘TG’ or ‘TS’ plates, tricking the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials.
These drivers are driving around the city with Telangana plates, even though their vehicles are registered in other states like Andhra Pradesh. The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) is concerned about these illegal activities.
Shaik Salauddin, the founder president of TGPWU, claims that some drivers are tampering with high security number plates and operating illegally. He shared an example where cab drivers at Hyderabad airport spotted a car with a tampered number plate. The car, originally registered in Andhra Pradesh as ‘AP26TE4974,’ was found with a plate reading ‘TS26TE4974.’ The drivers reported this to RTA officials for further investigation.
Salauddin mentioned that hundreds of cars are reportedly running illegally in the state. He cited another example where a car had a yellow high security number plate with ‘TS07UC9181,’ but the back of the plate displayed ‘AP36U3658.’
The TGPWU has identified more vehicles with tampered plates. One car, registered as a commercial vehicle with the number ‘TS09UC9571,’ was found using a private number plate.
The union has urged the Transport Minister and transport officials to take action against these unlawful acts. They have requested special checks in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and other areas to ensure that all vehicles have the necessary documents. This would protect passengers from unlawful activities, support registered cab drivers, and boost state revenue.
Additionally, thousands of vehicles from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and others are operating in Hyderabad with temporary permits. These vehicles are used by app-based aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido, as well as IT companies, and continue to operate illegally even after their permits expire.
