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Photo: D. Gopalakrishnan

End to autocracy? The row of autorickshaws will be a thing of the past

“How can the automen shell out Rs. 8000 per month if they buy a taxi? Autos are a cheap mode of transport, once cabs are introduced they will go out of the reach of the middle-classes,” says B. Venkatesham, secretary of the automen’s union. He promises a long and volatile agitation if the plan of phasing out the autos is implemented. How do you cover the distance between Tarnaka and Hitec City or from the Shamshabad Airport to the Secunderabad? “Already call taxies are plying on the road. They can have prepaid taxis at the airport. But there is no question about phasing out the autos,” he says.

In the queue of autos parked near Mehdipatnam circle, is Abbas, the spokesman for the crowd of autowallahs: “Most of the autos are owned by a few people who are very powerful. There are at least five people who have more than 75 autos. Do you think they will allow autos to be phased out? If the government cannot implement its digital meter proposal, will they be able to phase out autos?” he asks in cocky rhetoric.

It is the fear of the unknown rather than happiness with the present that has the autorickshawallahs opposing the move where they would be able to acquire a cab at low interest rates. “At the works we make about Rs. 150 per day, if we have a lucky day the earnings can go up to Rs. 500 also. After spending on fuel, rent and repairs the money we take home is not worth the struggle,” says Venkat Reddy.

As the city expands and acquires a size where travelling in an auto is a pain for lower back, the wind is turning. Already on the streets are luxury sedans for ferrying people around.

One of them happens to be Taxee! (9959222200), dial and you will have at your service a Toyota Corolla or an Innova. For a minimum fare of Rs. 425 for under five km, you can travel in comfort. “We are doing very good. The demand is pretty high,” says Saleem, the administrator of the service.

Already in some parts of the city, the white Indicas with yellow number plates outnumber the yellow autos parked on the middle of the road or cruising on the toes of bus commuters.

Have you heard the word Twin Cities lately? Perhaps not. As the metropolis of Hyderabad turns into a behemoth mind boggling distances, autos are atavistic anachronisms. “I live in Habshiguda, my office is in Madhapur. Imagine if I had to commute the distance in an autorickshaw? Even in a cab it is a backbreaking ride. Taxis would be a welcome thing for city commuters,” says Vidisha.

If Shamshabad Airport is seen as a deliverance from the evil of Hyderabad Airport, the same is not being said about reaching the destination.

“The airport is going to change the concept of distances in Hyderabad. Already people have started thinking that 10 km is short distance once the airport is ready people will have to adapt to farther distances. And autos don’t fit into that scheme of things,” says D. Srinath who works in an IT company but has to commute by autos.

The distance gauntlet is picked up by Venkatesham of the automen’s union. “For airports and other long haul destinations they can have call taxis. But within the city, the autos will rule,” he promises.

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