Economic conditions of Autorickshaw drivers in Chennai

This article would explain the economic conditions of Autorickshaw drivers in Chennai...

I personally know few autorickshaw drivers in Chennai. They have a unique lifestyle in Chennai. Youngsters(bachelors) among the autorickshaw drivers are usually some fan club members. However, there are married autorickshaw drivers in Chennai. Commonly, majority of these guys drink significantly(just a data point). The drivers would even have a cleaner(sometimes), for a three wheeler - who travels with the driver!

Autorickshaw drivers are the ones who drive the three wheeler motor vehicle, but there are rickshaw riders who manually pedal the rickshaw. Their situation is deteriorating day-by-day and in fact much more pathetic. Whoever were riding the manual rickshaws in past few years for their living are just trying to exist and keep it going. There are no more new manual rickshaw riders. Manual rickshaw will be gone soon, I believe.

However, autorickshaw is something which came from last generation. As it seemed to be a profitable business and employment, lot of people started to drive autorickshaws and many bought autorickshaws and provided for rent to many drivers. The driver will have to just pay a daily rent and he can use the auto as much as he want in the day.

Even though public transport is available, if we want to go to a place faster and go conveniently, we prefer autos as first thing. However, it costs money and not like a Rs.3 or so for a bus trip from palanganatham to periyar bus stand. Auto riding is costly affair definitely.

One more point is - Chennai or any major city autorickshaw drivers cheat the customers, but Chennai autorickshaw drivers do not cheat, instead they help the passengers and tourists.

Today, public transport like Bus, Mini bus, Bikes, personal cars, bicycles are available. Also, not-minding the cost of autorickshaws, people are still riding in autos. But the problem is - there is too many number of autorickshaws to serve the chennai auto users. Hence, there is not a fulfilling salary for the autorickshaw drivers.

It does not seem to be a lucrative business anymore. As on date, there is Call Taxi into Chennai transport arena. So, there is a reduction of demand of autos, from that perspective.

However, there is a concept of Share Autos, which commutes group of people from one place to another place, but this needs a permit.

All said, the overall economic conditions hit autorickshaw drivers, because autos are mainly used by middle class people and it is not lower middle class or upper middle class. It is only middle class, who use autos.

If middle class folks are in good condition, then automatically autorickshaw drivers would live well too.

This article is written upon request...