Autorickshaw drivers repeat their demand for an increase in fares

Autorickshaw drivers and app-based transport workers unions met Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Saturday and reiterated their demand for hike in minimum and per kilometer fares.

The unions sent representatives such as B. Venkatesham, A. Sathireddy, MA Saleem, Ajay Babu and others as part of a joint action committee (JAC) which raised these and other issues with Mr. Prabhakar, following a meeting they had with him on September 7. JAC leaders sought to increase the minimum price per car to ₹40 and ₹18.

Mr. Prabhakar said the decisions taken in the September 7 meeting would be implemented soon and assured the union leaders that the government was working on modalities to set up a welfare council for autorickshaw workers. He also said that the government is in the process of developing an app for the sector.

Union leaders urged the government to ban autorickshaws registered in districts other than Hyderabad from operating in the city. They said permits could be issued to local car drivers to meet the city’s traffic requirements. The minister assured them that the remaining permits for cars covered by Government Order No. 263 would be issued shortly, the JAC said.

Mr. Prabhakar also suggested the union leaders to appoint a smaller delegation of about five representatives to meet him every week and discuss the problems faced by the autorickshaw drivers until the issues are resolved.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 20:20 IST