Telangana Hire Vehicle Drivers Demand Charge Revision as Strike Enters Day Two

The indefinite strike by hire vehicle owner-drivers engaged by various Telangana government departments entered its second day on Thursday, with thousands of drivers across the state's 33 districts continuing their protest over stagnant hire charges, delayed payments and long-pending policy reforms. The Telangana Four Wheeler Drivers' Association (TGFWDA) has appealed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to intervene immediately and hold talks to resolve the issue.

The association said the agitation began after repeated representations to the Transport Department , Finance Department and senior government officials failed to produce any concrete action. According to TGFWDA founder-president Sheikh Salahuddin , the existing monthly hire charge of ₹34,000 for 2,500 kilometres , fixed in 2017 , has become financially unsustainable in view of soaring operational costs.

The association pointed out that commercial vehicle prices have risen by more than 50 per cent over the past several years, while expenses on fuel, vehicle EMIs, insurance, permits, fitness certificates, tyres, spare parts, maintenance and labour have increased sharply. It also alleged that several government departments have delayed clearing hire vehicle bills for months, and in some cases years, placing owner-drivers under severe financial stress and making it difficult to repay bank loans.

Besides seeking an increase in the monthly hire charge to ₹55,000 for motor cabs and ₹65,000 for SUVs, the association has demanded the immediate release of all pending payments. It has also called for uniform hiring guidelines across government departments, a minimum three-year contract period , direct payments to owner-drivers instead of contractors wherever feasible, and the formation of a stakeholder committee before any revision of commercial vehicle hiring policies. The revised rates, it said, should apply uniformly to petrol, diesel, CNG, hybrid and electric vehicles , encouraging operators to invest in cleaner transport.

The association further urged the government to release drivers who were reportedly detained during the protest, maintaining that the agitation has remained peaceful. It warned that the strike could be intensified if the government fails to respond, while expressing hope that early intervention would protect the livelihoods of thousands of driver families and prevent disruption to government services. At the time of reporting, the Telangana government had not issued an official response to the demands.