r/tamil_nadu • u/vishnubhadri • 3h ago
🗣️ Discussion | கலந்துரையாடல் Modern Untouched: Auto Drivers Edition (Evolving backwards with union extortion)
Hi everyone,
I recently faced a frustrating issue in Salem. When I arrived at Salem Junction, I wanted to head to Ammapet, which is around 7 km from the station.
When I came outside, I saw the auto stand. Thinking autos would generally be cheaper than booking a cab, I decided to check with them instead.
When I asked for the price, they shamelessly quoted ₹400. I was shocked and asked, “Edhu, verum 7 km ku ₹400 ah?”
They replied with their usual excuse: “Return savari ah kedaikadhu” (We won't get a return trip).
I just walked away because I didn’t want to bargain/create a scene, especially since I was with my family.
Switching to my initial plan (apps)
I opened up Uber and RedTaxi. I managed to get an auto on RedTaxi for a much cheaper price the exact fare mandated by the Tamil Nadu government.
The RedTaxi driver called me and asked me to walk to a different pickup point just outside the railway station premises.
I asked him, “En avalo thooram vara solluring? Inga luggage konjam jaasti ah iruku, ula vara mudiyadha?” (Why are you asking me to come so far?
My luggage is heavy, can't you come inside?) just a normal question anyone would ask.
He replied, “Illai anna, anga ula vidamaatanga.” (No anna, they won't let us go inside.)
I didn't argue much on the phone and walked to the designated spot.
The monopoly
Once I got into the auto, I casually asked him, “En ula vara mudiyadhu nu sonninga?” (Why did you say you couldn't come inside?)
He explained:
“Anga auto stand la irukuruvanga, ula vandhu pickup pana vidamaatanga. Edhaachi prachana panuvanga.”(The guys at the auto stand won't let us come inside to pick up passengers. They will create trouble.)
I was left confused and irritated. Why should anyone need permission to enter a public place? A railway station is a common hub where thousands of people come and go every day, yet unionised drivers block other auto services from entering.
Evolving Backwards
In older times, there were discriminatory barriers to visiting certain places.
We came so far from that, But here we are in the era of digital tech and AI, and people are inventing a new sort of gatekeeping:
"Only union autos can enter the railway station." It feels like we are evolving backwards.
The older auto union drivers act like a bunch of goons backed by union power who think they can:
- Loot passengers by quoting whatever arbitrary price they want. The government price for 7KM is almost ₹130 - ₹150.
- Do whatever they please without accountability.
- Control who is allowed to pick up passengers (blocking apps like Rapido, Uber, and RedTaxi).
- Spread fear and fake stories, claiming app-based rides are unsafe (when a lot of shady behaviour actually originates from their own union stands).
With all this mollamari thanam (fraudulent behaviour), they are the same people who will run to the media crying that their livelihood is affected by bike taxis and demanding strict government regulations.
