Auto earnings dip as TGSRTC strike ends in Hyderabad

With the TGSRTC strike ending, the temporary rise in auto-rickshaw drivers’ earnings in Hyderabad has declined as bus services resumed. Autos had seen high demand during the strike, but normalcy is expected to bring fares and demand back down.

Hyderabad: With the indefinite strike by TGSRTC workers coming to an end, the brief surge in earnings and income enjoyed by auto-rickshaw drivers in the past few days has also quickly cooled down, as buses return to city roads and normalcy prevails.

For about three days, autos became the main transport option for commuters, including working professionals, women and students, due to the absence of RTC services.

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The sudden and sharp rise in demand for alternate travel options brought higher daily incomes for auto drivers, many of whom had reportedly been struggling with reduced passenger numbers and income in recent years, due to the ‘Mahalakshmi’ free travel for women scheme introduced by the government.

However, the situation also drew criticism, with several passengers reporting steep and arbitrary fare hikes, especially during peak hours and on busy routes.

With bus services now restarting, dependence on autos is expected to decline again, likely bringing both demand and fares back to normal.