Getting around Madras on autorickshaws
This piece examines the evolution of the autorickshaw as a vital, yet often unregulated, mode of public transport in Chennai. It discusses the growth in vehicle numbers, the struggle of authorities to manage fares, and the complex socio-economic dynamics of the drivers.
Why it matters
It illustrates the challenges of urban infrastructure and the informal economy in rapidly growing metropolitan areas.
One of the stories in this special edition dealt with masula boat operators and how they were a law unto themselves. It is appropriate to include one about the autorickshaw. The Hindu in an article dated August 17, 2023, said the city had a love-hate relationship with this mode of transport, and this said it all. And yet, can you imagine life in our city without the autorickshaw?
They came to Madras in the early 1970s, and in 1973, the estimate was that we had 200 of them. In 2026, it is estimated that we have around 1,00,000 of them, catering to 1.5 million passengers a day, which explains why they are such a lifeline.
A scan of The Hindu archives shows that the authorities have continuously tried keeping up with the autorickshaw, and they were one step behind all the time.
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