Illegal auto LPG price hike hits Hyderabad commuters as fares surge

Auto LPG price hikes in Hyderabad, allegedly due to overcharging by gas stations citing shortage, are forcing auto drivers to increase fares, impacting commuters, schoolchildren, and daily passengers as waiting times and operational costs rise significantly.

Hyderabad: The ‘illegal’ price hike of auto LPG at gas stations in the city is casting its impact on the public transport mode. While the actual price of the auto LPG is around Rs. 67 a kilogram, the gas stations citing shortage are reportedly collecting up to Rs. 30 more from the auto rickshaw drivers.

The burden of extra bill is passed on to the customers by the auto drivers. “We wait in the queue for hours at the fuel stations to get the fuel. Also, the cashiers are gas stations are demanding Rs. 30 extra over the actual rate, with no other option we are paying it,” explained Abdul Khadeer, an auto rickshaw driver from Attapur.

---

“Earlier we worked seven to eight hours a day with waiting time at fuel stations of around five to ten minutes. Now we have to wait in the queue at the fuel station for one to two hours. We are unable to get adequate time to offer rides, hence we are charging more,” said Mohd Ali, another auto rickshaw driver from Charminar.

Due to the exploitation by the gas station management, the customers are ending up shelling out more money. “Usually I pay Rs. 70 for a distance of 4 km, the drivers are not settling for less than Rs. 120 these days. With limited options, I have to agree for the fare,” complained S Manisha, a school teacher from Santoshnagar.

The auto drivers who ferry the children to the schools regularly are demanding extra money from parents else asking them to make alternate arrangements.

“Twice in last one week I had to drop my children to school. The auto driver made excuses of shortage auto LPG gas at the gas stations,” said Mohd Imtiyaz, a resident of Moghalpura.