Harrassment at Hyderabad Airport

It's 2:00 AM, and I have just landed at Hyderabad airport, already irritable from the three hour delay of my flight. I walk out of the airport and am greeted by a horde of auto drivers asking me where my destination lies. I need transport, so I tell them. Somehow they do not feel the need to settle the fare with me, which, if I did not know better, would give me the impression that they would like to go by the meter plus the additional night charge. So I ask the dude, how much will he charge, to which he nonchalantly says "Madhapur na? 190 de dena."

Now I know better than to argue with a guy with such a warped sense of humor and in a more affable mood, I might have exchanged a few more anecdotes with him, but such was not my state of mind (or body, which was seriously sleep deprived). I know it takes 70 bucks in the day time, which would mean 105 at night, but I end up paying 130 for the ride after escaping from a number solicitors.

That is not what irks me. What irks me is the fact that for some unfathomable reason, the powers that be, have established the daytime pre-paid auto fare to Madhapur as 130, almost double the normal fare. On top of that, an auto driver needs a permit to venture into the airport premises, so normal auto guys who might be convinced to go at normal fares are not accessible to the traveller. What is the rationale? If you can afford to travel by air, you should pay more to travel by road as well? Why when you encourage low cost airlines would you hike up road travel fares? Are we running out of space that fast?

Anyways, here's a tip for the middle class traveller to Hyderabad. If you're not averse to a little labour, push your luggage trolley outwards till you reach an intersection. Lots of autos there who can be convinced to charge normal fares.

Related Post: Auto-rickshaw drivers: Mumbai vs Hyderabad!

Tags:

• Hyderabad
• Travel
• Jago+Grahak+Jago
• Consumer+Rights