Madurai Auto Drivers Seek Relief as Free Women's Bus Scheme Hits Their Income

Autorickshaw drivers in Madurai have petitioned the District Collector, highlighting significant income losses linked to Tamil Nadu's 'Vettri Payanam' scheme, which offers free bus travel to women. The Tholkappiyar Autorickshaw Drivers Welfare Association, representing more than 100 operators, submitted their concerns to Collector Nishant Krishna on Monday.

While drivers recognize the social benefits of expanding public transit access for women, they point to an unintended economic impact on their livelihoods. Many operators working routes that overlap with major bus corridors report a sharp drop in passenger numbers since the program's implementation. For drivers who depend entirely on daily fares to cover household expenses, loan payments, and vehicle costs, the reduced income has created mounting financial pressure.

Most drivers operate vehicles purchased through commercial loans, leaving them with fixed monthly installments alongside rising fuel prices, maintenance expenses, and insurance premiums. The decreased daily receipts have left families with minimal financial cushion for emergencies, according to the association.

The group is calling for an official review of the scheme's impact, including a comprehensive district-wide study on income changes and trip counts among drivers. They have requested formal consultations with driver representatives, targeted financial relief if adverse effects are confirmed, and exploration of last-mile transit integration to coordinate autorickshaw services with public bus routes. The association emphasized they are not seeking to remove the free travel benefit, but rather asking for policy adjustments that protect the livelihoods of daily-wage operators.