Vizag auto driver protests on ‘Stree Shakthi’

In a powerful act of protest, Chintakayala Srinu, an auto driver from Visakhapatnam, completed a padayatra (long march) to Amaravati to voice his opposition to the state government’s free bus travel scheme. Arriving at the state secretariat on Wednesday, his journey, which began on September 2, symbolized the mounting financial distress faced by thousands of auto drivers across Andhra Pradesh.

During his march, Srinu carried the national flag and a placard with a clear message: "Free bus travel should be cancelled - auto drivers should be supported." He explained that he undertook the challenging journey in the hope of catching the attention of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who had previously promised to support auto drivers.

The core of Srinu’s protest is the severe economic impact of the scheme on his livelihood and that of his peers. He recounted a stark contrast in earnings before and after the free bus travel was introduced. "Before the free bus travel was started, we used to earn up to ₹1,200 per day," he stated. "That was enough to cover our family's needs, including our children's education, house rent, and the regular payments on our auto loans. It was a stable income that allowed us to provide for our families."

However, the new scheme has drastically altered their financial reality. "Now, even if we work 12 hours a day, it's becoming difficult to earn even ₹500," Srinu lamented. This drop in income has made it a struggle to meet basic expenses and vehicle loan EMIs, pushing many auto drivers into a precarious financial situation.

Srinu’s padayatra is not an isolated incident but a public representation of the widespread frustration among auto drivers. The free bus scheme, while beneficial for women commuters, has had an unintended, devastating effect on the informal transport sector. Srinu’s direct appeal to the state leadership "The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister should support us" is a plea for a dialogue and a compensatory mechanism to mitigate the losses. He hopes the government will either reconsider the scheme or introduce an alternative form of financial assistance to ensure that auto drivers and their families are not left behind.