Fuel price rise: Maharashtra auto drivers forced to work extra hours

rising prices of petrol is eating into earnings of auto-rickshaw drivers and disturbing ir household budgets, forcing m to work extra hours to earn ditional income in Maharashtra. Some of auto-rickshaw drivers say y earlier used to work from 10 am to 7 pm in a day, but are w starting early in morning and ferrying passengers till late night to earn some profit and support ir families.

Retail petrol rates have risen by Rs 18.01 per litre since mid-March 2020, after government raised taxes to mop up gains arising from fall in international oil prices. Diesel rates have gone up by Rs 15.44 per litre. So far this year, petrol prices have risen by Rs 3.89 per litre and of diesel by Rs 3.86 per litre.

In Aurangab, price of unleed petrol has reached Rs 95.27 per litre, while petrol with ditives is selling at Rs 98.13 per litre. Among those hit hard by price hike is Abdul Rahim (65), hailing from Sanjay Nagar area here, who has been driving auto-rickshaw since 1980.

"Earlier, I used to ferry passengers from 10 am to 7 pm. petrol price rise has reduced my earnings and to earn a profit of around Rs 200, I have to w start early at about 9 am and drive till 10 pm," he told PTI.

Rahim said he spends nearly Rs 230 every day on fuel and by end of day, he earns about Rs 400. He has to shell out money for vehicle's maintenance also. "My family comprises five members and one of my sons works in a gar. This ds little to our family income. We earlier suffered due to coronavirus-induced lockdown and w rising fuel price is a cause of worry," he said.

re are 31,038 auto-rickshaws registered with Aurangab regional transport office, including 9,972 vehicles using LPG as fuel, an RTO official said. Auto-rickshaw driver Mohammed Faheem said he earns about Rs 300 after spending Rs 110 on petrol for his vehicle.

"I also need to pay Rs 100 as rent to vehicle owner every day. I earn only Rs 100, hence I am driving at least two more hours every day," he said.

Those driving vehicles using LPG as fuel earn a little more, but driving with a petrol engine is a tough job, said Faheem (45), a resident of Rangar Galli here. "My son is working in a mobile shop and ds Rs 4,000 to our family income every month. Many a times, he has to take an vance from his employer for medical treatment of my wife, who is diabetic," he ded.

Dinesh Bhatawale, ar auto-rickshaw driver here, said he has changed his work schedule to earn some income. "I start my day around 8 am. Earlier, I used to go home around 2 pm for lunch and take a little rest. w, I spend afteron time looking for passengers," he said.

Bhatawale said even if a passenger calls around 10 pm, he does t refuse to ferry him/her. Ar local auto-rickshaw driver Dattapras Trivedi said even though he is out on ros for at least two more hours every day, re is certainty of getting passengers. "Many have left this work and taken up or jobs," he said.