Auto drivers in Chennai called for a 12-hour strike on Wednesday, March 19, from 6 am to 6 pm, protesting against the alleged undue pressure from the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) to integrate a QR code system in their vehicles. They urged the government to first meet their long-term demands of fare revision, a government-run ride-hailing app, and a ban on bike taxis.
The Greater Chennai Police (GCP), on March 8, initiated a QR code system to be integrated into autos and cabs, aiming to enhance passenger safety, particularly for women and children, by allowing real-time monitoring and an SOS feature in emergencies.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, March 12, CITU-affiliated Tamil Nadu Auto Workers Federation's Executive President S Balasubramaniam said that despite a court order in 2022 to revise fares, the state government has not implemented any changes. "The Madras High Court directed the government to revise auto fares in February 2022. Following this, a rate-fixing committee held discussions with auto unions, but no revision has been made," he said.
The unions have been demanding that the minimum fare be increased to Rs 50, with Rs 25 per additional kilometer. Currently, the minimum fare stands at Rs 25 for the first 1.8 km and Rs 12 per km thereafter.
"Private ride-hailing apps do not follow government-fixed fares. They charge hidden fees that exploit both drivers and passengers. A government-run app would ensure transparency, generate revenue, and provide a reasonable fare structure," Balasubramaniam argued.
Jothi, an auto driver, told TNM that the emergence of bike taxis has significantly reduced their income. "We used to get around 30 rides a day, but now it has dropped to 15-20. Many bike taxi riders do this as a side hustle, often while commuting to their offices. Meanwhile, full-time auto drivers like me struggle to find enough rides," Jothi said. The situation worsens during school vacations, as auto drivers who usually oversee schoolchildren begin competing for regular rides, he added.
Without meeting these demands first, Balasubramaniam said, "We are being called to police stations at odd hours and forced to collect these QR stickers."
Ramesh, another auto driver, questioned why the police could not simply integrate the feature into the existing Kavalan SOS app instead of launching a separate initiative.
According to reports, Chennai has 89,641 autos, with around 78,000 attached to platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The first phase of the QR initiative has seen the distribution of QR codes for 88,859 autos and share autos.
However, drivers have raised concerns about the durability of the stickers as well. "The QR code stickers are made of paper-based material, which gets damaged easily. It would be better if they were placed on the corner of the windshield instead of the seatback," an auto driver told TNM on condition of anonymity.
Balasubramaniam has also urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to fulfill his poll promise of providing a Rs 10,000 subsidy for purchasing new auto-rickshaws. The union has staged multiple protests, rallies, and hunger strikes earlier, yet their demands remain unfulfilled.