Breaking: Hyderabad Auto Bandh Called Off At Last Minute!

Hyderabad commuters can breathe easy for now. The Telangana auto drivers’ strike, which was scheduled to begin from midnight on Sunday, has been called off after the unions reached an understanding with the state government. The sudden development came just a night before the proposed strike.

Transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar held discussions with the Auto Workers JAC leaders, following which the unions announced their decision to withdraw the strike. The government reportedly responded positively to several of their key demands.

One of the major developments is the government’s agreement to issue a GO to facilitate a hike in auto fares. The government has also decided to work on an app for auto services on the lines of Ola and Uber.

The minister clarified that there is no proposal for RTC to purchase EV autos and termed such claims as misinformation. He also announced that a meeting involving the Labour Department, Transport Department and auto workers’ representatives will be held on September 1.

The unions had earlier raised several issues including rising fuel costs, welfare support, bike taxis, e challans and better financial assistance. With the latest discussions, the government has managed to address some of the major concerns and prevent a citywide transport disruption.

The last minute intervention by Ponnam Prabhakar has completely changed the situation. What was expected to become a major headache for Hyderabad commuters from Monday has now been avoided, at least for the time being, with further discussions scheduled in the coming days.