Wed Mar 19 08:55:33 UTC 2025: **Chennai Auto-Rickshaw Drivers Strike Disrupts Commuting**
CHENNAI, March 19, 2025 – A strike by Chennai auto-rickshaw drivers on Wednesday brought significant disruption to the city’s commute. Two major auto-rickshaw unions, the Tamil Nadu Auto, Call Taxi Drivers Association Federation and the Federation of Tamil Nadu All Auto Trade Unions, staged separate protests demanding fare revisions and action against what they see as unfair competition.
The unions claim that auto fares haven’t been updated since 2013, despite rising fuel costs and the increasing expense of maintaining vehicles. They are also protesting against the operation of bike taxis by transport aggregators, describing them as unauthorized commercial use of personal vehicles. Furthermore, the unions object to the recently implemented Greater Chennai Police QR code system for vehicle monitoring and demand the immediate launch of a transport app developed by the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA). Concerns were also raised about high commissions (up to 25%) charged by aggregators.
The protests, held at Rajarathinam stadium and outside the Chennai Collectorate, caused significant traffic congestion and left commuters struggling to find alternative transport. One resident reported paying over ₹150 for a short journey due to the inflated prices during the strike. The Transport Minister, S.S. Sivasankar, has previously promised to address the fare revision issue, but the unions say no action has been taken. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between auto-rickshaw drivers and the city’s transport authorities.
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