Getting around Madras on autorickshaws

Until November 1983 autorickshaws were expected to carry only two passengers at a time. This was subsequently increased to three. Another aspect that authorities remain permanently behind on is the upgrading of autorickshaw meter fares. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Bureau 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.Do you know that until November 1983 autorickshaws were expected to carry only two passengers at a time? On that day, the number was increased to three, because all autorickshaws were taking that many people at a time anyway. Today, especially during school hours, it is amazing how many children an autorickshaw manages to pack in. Yet another aspect that authorities remain permanently behind on is the upgrading of the meter fares. By the time they and the powerful autorickshaw unions come to an agreement on rates, the basis of calculations itself becomes outdated, and so it is more a question of what the market can bear. A few years ago it was ‘meter mela pottu kodunga’ (please give something more than the meter). Now, there is no meter at all.To be sure, it is not easy being an autorickshaw driver. You are at the mercy of the keepers of the law on the roads, and just about any other kind of vehicle. And then there is the question of ownership. As many as 30% of the autorickshaws in the city are not owned by the driver. The chain may end up with a party lawyer or a politician, which brings its fair share of troubles. And autorickshaw thefts are far more common than you would think. Autorickshaws have had their brand ambassadors, both of the bad and good variety. Among the latter, the most famous is arguably Rajinikanth’s character Manikam in the 1995 film Baasha. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives Autorickshaws have had their brand ambassadors, both of the bad and good variety. There was the noted criminal ‘Auto’ Shankar from Thiruvanmiyur, who was finally apprehended and hanged in Salem after a trial. And we have had K. Kumar of the Goodwill Auto Stands fame and Rajinikanth in Baasha. The song Naan Autokaaran became a hit not just because of its tune but also the lyrics, if heard carefully, are an apt summing of why people in the city have their favourite autorickshaw, just around the corner and available in a jiffy. And if you are in a hurry, the autorickshaw is your best choice for reaching your destination. Chances are that every traffic rule will be violated by the time you get there, but get there you will. In 2026, it has been estimated that autorickshaws cater to an average of 1.5 million passengers a day in Chennai. | Photo Credit: M. Vedhan The Hindu article of 2023 referred to above notes that aggregator apps have blunted the edge of the autorickshaw drivers. Could it be that just as the harbour sounded the death knell for the boatmen, technology may tame the autorickshaws?Three years later, it can be safely said that its impact has been limited. The autorickshaw world works on personal relationships outside the purview of a blanket app. Its role in last-mile connectivity is beyond doubt, if Metro Rail manages to rope in autorickshaws at its stations, it may find patronage growing in leaps and bounds. Perhaps, the somnambulant Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) should ponder over this and act. Published - August 22, 2026 07:24 am IST