BENGALURU: A section of Telugu-speaking people in Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana, is under fire for plying taxis. They are being asked to “go back to Andhra Pradesh” by the ‘locals’ as the livelihood issue heats up.
The ‘original’ Telanganites of Hyderabad cabbies, running taxi services of taxi aggregators, are upset that many vehicles from outside the state have flooded the IT hub and are eating into their livelihood opportunities. As a result, they want the ‘settlers’ from Andhra Pradesh to leave and work in their home state.
[Also, by the same author: A young, bright scribe’s life cut short by financial distress in Telangana – THE NEWS PORTER]
Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh around 10 years ago after a prolonged agitation for a separate Telangana. As per the agreement on June 2, 2024, Hyderabad ceased to be a joint capital for the two states. Since then, taxi drivers of Telangana have been stepping up the pressure to “oust Andhra taxi players”.
Local cabbie unions have urged the state government to regulate the operations of vehicles from outside the state operating in the capital city. Vehicles from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are working on app-based ride-sharing services and with software firms, even after their permits lapse.
Plea for crackdown
“But predominantly, such cabs are more often from Andhra Pradesh and the transport department needs to crack the whip on non-local vehicles,” the local taxi operators union has stressed.
Now, after the Andhra taxi operators of Hyderabad appealed to the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan, he spoke with the union and requested it to allow people from Andhra to work in Hyderabad. To his request, the Telangana cab drivers’ union said they were not against the Andhra cabbies but were protesting against the aggregator companies that were operating services illegally.
Telangana Gig and Platform Worker Union President Shaik Salauddin said that other state vehicles operating in Telangana impact the state exchequer. “During festive seasons, illegal cab services by private vehicles increase, affecting the business of registered cab drivers and risking passenger safety,” he claimed.
Need to enforce regulations
“We are not against the cab drivers from other states, but we are against the aggregator companies who defy the laws of the land,” he pointed out, adding the transport authorities should enforce regulations and ensure all vehicles have necessary permits and pay appropriate taxes to operate legally within the state.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan appealed to the Telangana cab drivers’ union to allow their fellow Telegu-speaking people to work alongside them. “Unity is essential for the development of both Telugu states,” he said, adding, “Asking cab drivers from Andhra Pradesh to leave Hyderabad is unjustified.”
Pawan Kalyan urged cab drivers from Telangana to be sympathetic toward their counterparts from Andhra Pradesh, as displacing them would deprive some 2,000 families of their livelihood.
“There is a need for the two Telugu states to have cooperation,” he said while adding that he would try and meet with concerned people in the Telangana government to solve this problem.
The main picture on top: A view of the iconic Charminar in Hyderabad. (This Wikipedia picture has been used for illustrative purposes only)
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