- Friday, February 28, 2025
The man was in tears because his income nosedived allegedly because of free bus rides that the newly elected government of Karnataka recently started.
By: Shubham Ghosh
AUTO-RICKSHAWS (three-wheeled public transport vehicles) in India’s information technology capital Bengaluru are often accused of fleecing passengers. They are also accused of targeting other modes of transport such as bike taxis as they allege that it would hurt their businesses.
But recently, a video surfaced showing an entirely opposite picture. In it, an auto-rickshaw driver in the city was seen in tears because his income nosedived allegedly because of free bus rides that the newly elected government of Karnataka recently started.
A Bengaluru auto driver in tears after collecting just Rs 40/- from 8 am to 1 pm. This is the result of free bus rides given by the new Cong govt in Karnataka.
Pushing people into poverty. pic.twitter.com/2RZEjA9pw8— Zavier (@ZavierIndia) June 25, 2023
India Weekly could not verify the video’s authenticity though.
Speaking to a local channel in Kannada, the language spoken in Karnataka, the auto-rickshaw driver showed the amount of money he earned since morning. As per the accompanying tweet, he could make only Rs 40 between 8 am and 1 pm. The one-minute video, however, had no mention of a date or the place where it was shot.
Nevertheless, the video triggered a debate on social media with netizens getting divided over the auto-rickshaw drivers. While some sympathised with the particular auto-rickshaw driver seen in the video, others said auto-rickshaw drivers in the city often charge excess fares.
“They voted for freebees. Freebees have consequences direct & indirect,” said one user.
“How is that possible? Free bus rides for women. The buses are overcrowded with women. Have all the men locked themselves inside?” asked another.
“Yet last week no Auto driver was ready to go from Jayadeva to Malleswaram. Not one and one guy asked for 200% fare! All parked doing nothing. Got into a bus! No pity for these guys. Uber Ola are also scamsters,” said another.
The new Indian National Congress government of Karnataka which took charge in May implemented free bus rides for women and transgender people in government-run buses, one of its major election promises. Earlier this month, a picture of an elderly woman bowing down in gratitude while stepping into a bus became viral on social media.
The woman, 70, had said that earlier she had to take permission and money from her children for travelling by bus but with the rides made free, she doesn’t have to depend on anybody, The Indian Express reported.
