Bengaluru auto driver's video goes viral, says earned just Rs 40 in 5 hours

A video of an Bengaluru autorickshaw driver breaking down on camera is doing the rounds on Twitter. In the video, the autorickshaw driver says that since he has been able to earn just Rs 40. There are no customers because of free bus ride and it is causing us a lot of trouble, he says. The authenticity of the video could not be verified. Neither there was any information about other details like date and locality.

In the video shared on Twitter, the autorickshaw driver can be seen showing the two Rs 20 notes that he was able to earn from morning till afternoon.

The Karnataka government earlier his month rolled out free bus ride service for woman passengers that would cost the state exchequer more than Rs 4,000 crore annually. The government noted that this scheme will reduce the travel expenses of working women from poor and lower middle class, and as the savings can be used for household expenses. This is part of the poll promises announced by the Congress ahead of the assembly elections.


Since the implementation of Shakti free bus ride scheme in Karnataka, auto drivers have complained that their earnings have reduced to a minimum, according to news reports.

A auto driver told Bangalore Mirror that prior to the implementation of the scheme, over 70% of his customers would be women but now most of them are opting to travel by bus to save money.

The video has been viewed over 1 lakh times since being posted on June 25.


The video clip has evoked mixed reactions on social media. "This is a huge concern. Women who can afford auto rickshaws being allowed free bus-rides disrupts the economic balance of the state. Stability can only come back after a large chunk of autorickshaws go out of the streets and their drivers find alternate avenues of earning," said an user.

Another user wrote: "I feel they deserve it. Recently a auto driver was asking me ₹200 from Church Street to Chalukya hotel. Auto drivers have become so greedy especially in Bangalore."