SOURCE :- SIASAT NEWS
Hyderabad: The proposed strike by auto and other transport workers in Telangana has been called off after the state government gave written assurances on several key demands, including revision of auto fares, setting up a Transport Workers’ Welfare Board and financial support for converting autos to electric vehicles, the Congress said on Monday, August 24.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin told a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, along with representatives of auto, cab, lorry and other transport organisations, that Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar held talks with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions on Sunday, August 23, and responded positively to their concerns.
Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTUC) General Secretary RD Chandrashekhar Reddy said representatives of various unions had raised 14 demands and the government gave immediate written assurances on about 10 of them through the minutes of the meeting.
Hike in metre fare key demand
Nizamuddin said revision of long-unchanged autorickshaw metre fares was among the most significant demands, and that the minister had agreed to set up a committee to study the issue, examining fare systems followed in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. On the welfare board, a Congress manifesto promise, he said the matter had already been discussed in the Cabinet and the administrative process would be completed soon.
Among demands concerning aggregators such as Ola, Uber, Rapido and Porter, unions sought enforcement of government-notified minimum fares under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, and a bar on private vehicles undertaking app-based commercial transport.
Chandrashekhar Reddy said the government had proposed a tripartite mechanism involving the Labour Department, unions and aggregators to address these issues.
EV conversion support, no large-scale e-auto plan
Nizamuddin said the government had proposed Rs 1.50 lakh in financial assistance to eligible autorickshaw owners for converting their vehicles to electric mode. He rejected claims that the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) planned large-scale purchase of electric autos for last-mile connectivity in a way that would threaten existing drivers, saying the minister had clarified no such proposal existed.
Chandrashekhar Reddy said the government had reiterated its manifesto promise of Rs 12,000 annual assistance to autorickshaw workers and responded positively on the withdrawal of government order (GO) 263.
Lorry Association representative Rajendra Reddy sought inclusion of goods transport workers, citing around 6.5 lakh goods vehicles operating in the state, and thanked the government for relief on fitness renewal fees for vehicles older than 15 years.
All India Professionals Congress representative Syed Rauf accused the Opposition of trying to politicise the strike, claiming around 45,000 auto permits had been issued since the Congress government took office.
Nizamuddin appealed to unions to give the government a reasonable time to implement the assurances and to continue engaging with it rather than being swayed by rumours.
SOURCE : SIASAT
