Published Aug 23, 2026 | 4:11 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 23, 2026 | 4:11 PM
Representatives of Telangana State Auto and App-based Unions JAC displaying their demands at a press meet
Synopsis: Thousands of auto, cab, school van drivers among others across Telangana are set to begin an indefinite strike from midnight on Sunday, demanding that the Congress government fulfil its pre-2023 Assembly election promise of ₹12,000 in financial assistance and clear arrears for the past three years. The drivers are also seeking a revision of auto and cab fares, a government-backed aggregator app, a guaranteed minimum income, a welfare board and implementation of the ₹5-lakh accident insurance cover.
Thousands of commercial vehicle drivers across Telangana, including autorickshaw and cab drivers, school van drivers, and those working with ride aggregator apps such as Ola, Uber and Rapido, are set to take their vehicles off the road from midnight on Sunday, 23 August, in support of an indefinite strike called by the Telangana State Auto and App-based Unions Joint Action Committee (JAC).
The strike follows weeks of pressure on the Congress government to fulfil its pre-2023 Assembly election promise of providing ₹12,000 in financial assistance to each driver. The JAC has demanded the immediate rollout of the scheme and payment of arrears for the past three years.
The JAC held a large demonstration at Indira Park on 17 August and later submitted a formal strike notice to the State Transport Department, setting Sunday midnight as the deadline.
Shaik Majeed, president of the Azad Auto Drivers Welfare Association, said on Sunday that the strike would continue indefinitely until the drivers’ demands were met.
“So far, we only received promises from the Chief Minister and other ministers. We got nothing but promises. The time has come for us to fight for our rights. The strike is not for one day; it is indefinite,” he said.
“Until our demands are met, no auto, cab or van, neither online nor school hire, will run in Hyderabad or Telangana. I request all the drivers to come together and stay united in our struggle.”
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Union leaders said the State’s free bus travel scheme for women has considerably reduced auto ridership over the past couple of years and squeezed drivers’ already thin margins.
The coalition includes the School Van Drivers Union, Cab Drivers Union, Azad Auto Drivers Welfare Association, Bharatiya Private Transport Mazdoor Mahasangh, and the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), International Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU), and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), among others.
The JAC representatives said financial distress had led to driver suicides, citing an estimated 200 such deaths across Telangana over the past three years.
Among the demands are a revision of auto and cab meter fares to account for the rising cost of fuel and everyday commodities, and a guaranteed minimum income for drivers. The unions said fares have remained unchanged even as operating and living expenses have increased.
The JAC has also sought a government-backed aggregator app as an alternative to Ola, Uber and Rapido, while demanding action against app-based bike-taxi services. It has further called for the immediate constitution of a welfare board for autorickshaw and private transport workers and the implementation of the ₹5-lakh accident insurance cover introduced by the previous State government.
They have also opposed the plan to operate electric autorickshaws through the TGSRTC, saying it would further affect the livelihoods of existing auto drivers.
Representatives of the JAC met leaders of various political parties in the State on 22 August, including K Kavitha of the Telangana Rashtra Sena (TRS) and N Ramchandar Rao of the BJP, and sought their solidarity for the strike.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
