Hyderabad faced a major disruption on Tuesday, January 20, as auto-rickshaw drivers went on a one-day strike. The strike aimed to push for a fare revision and limit the entry of autos from outside the city. This caused significant inconvenience, especially for school students and daily commuters.
The Informal Labourer and Workers Welfare Federation (ILWF) organized the strike. It impacted people’s morning routines and was expected to affect the entire day.
The ILWF had two main demands. They wanted a ban on autos from other districts operating in Hyderabad and a hike in metre fares. Drivers pointed out that the last fare revision was years ago and that their income is no longer sustainable. They also mentioned facing tough competition from app-based cab services like OLA and Uber.
Auto driver Mohammed Suleman from Vijayanagar Colony shared with Siasat.com that their earnings have been hit by these app-based services. Additionally, the state’s free bus travel scheme for women has further reduced their passenger numbers.
The union planned a protest at Indira Park later in the day.
The strike had a significant impact on school students, who rely heavily on auto-rickshaws. On Tuesday morning, union members were seen stopping auto drivers from taking students to school. Many parents had to drop their children off themselves.
Due to the lack of autos, there was a spike in demand for cab services like OLA, Uber, and Rapido. Many users experienced delays and struggled to book rides.
The inconvenience was expected to continue into the evening, affecting school students and office-goers who depend on autos for their return journeys.
