Telangana Auto Strike Brings City to a Halt: Drivers Demand Fare Hike, Ban on App services

Telangana came to a standstill on Thursday as auto-rickshaw drivers launched a statewide strike , heeding the call of the state auto unions’ JAC . In Hyderabad , key areas including Himayat Nagar , the Assembly surroundings , and major junctions saw streets without autos, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Union leaders demanded urgent government action to address long-pending issues and revise policies that they say are crippling drivers’ livelihoods.

The main demand centers on meter fare revisions. Drivers are pressing for an immediate hike in minimum charges to cope with soaring petrol, diesel, and gas prices. They warned that years without fare increases have left them struggling, making it impossible to sustain operations amid rising living costs.

Unions also called for a ban on app-based services like Ola, Uber, and Rapido , claiming illegal bike taxis and private vehicles are eating into their income. They highlighted that companies like Rapido are flouting regulations by using white-board vehicles commercially , reducing business for licensed auto drivers. The demand is clear: strict government action or a complete ban .

The strike also targeted the 2019 Motor Vehicles Act aggregator rules , which unions say burden ordinary drivers with heavy fines and harsh regulations. Sheikh Salavuddin, founder of the T elangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, criticized the government for allowing companies to set arbitrary rates, leaving gig and auto workers vulnerable to exploitation.

The 12-hour strike , from 6 AM to 6 PM , featured a massive rally from Sudha Ria Park to NTR Stadium . Union leaders warned that failure to engage in talk s could lead to an even bigger shutdown . Meanwhile, with autos absent from railway stations, bus stands, and colleges , commuters were forced to rely heavily on Metro and bus services .