Auto Drivers and taxi drivers in Chennai want revision in the fares now
Posted on: 01/Jul/2021 8:48:49 AM
The Coronavirus infection pandemic has turned the lives of many Chennai residents upside down. As if this is not enough, the prices of fuels have been increasing at an alarming rate and this has created a huge issue now for many. The shocking truth is that the prices of petrol have now gone closer to Rs 100 per litre in Chennai. As a result, the lives of auto drivers and taxi drivers in Chennai have become very difficult.
Amidst the Coronavirus second infection wave, the auto drivers and taxi drivers have criticized the rise in the fuel prices. On Wednesday, 30th June, the petrol rates remained at Rs 99.80 per litre and diesel prices reached Rs 93.72 per litre. It must not be forgotten that before the lockdown in 2020 the price of petrol was Rs 72.28 per litre and that of diesel was Rs 65.71 per litre.
According to an auto driver from Perambur it was clear that the prices are increasing every day and this has been making the lives of common man difficult. Point is that life has become very tough for those who have to pay for the fuel each day. He then spoke about how rising fuel prices have been eating the earnings of those who make a living by transporting goods or people. The earnings of many have gone down in the Covid-19 pandemic is a well known fact.
For the sake of cutting down the movement of the people, the TN government banned the movement of public transport vehicles and due to this all transport owners suffered. In this crisis, the auto drivers and taxi drivers had faced lots of issues.
It was brought to light by a taxi driver that they found it tough to make money to feed their own families plus to pay the school fees of their kids. Mr. Balasubramanian, TN Auto Thozhilalar Sammelanam president later explained about how the TN government must revise the fares of autos that were fixed in 2013. In that year, a litre of petrol was sold at Rs 82.95 in Chennai. Whenever the rates of petrol go up or down, the Madras High Court has directed the TN government to periodically revise the fares is known. Truth is that in the last 41 years, the TN government has revised the fares just 5 times. Currently, minimum fare of Rs 25 is charged for 1.8km and Rs 12 per km thereafter.
