Tata Magic And Auto Drivers

I take the auto everyday to T.Nagar for work.

During the past few months auto drivers who used to demand a lot more fares than the already normally high rates due to petrol price rise! From Adyar to T.Nagar they would demand anywhere between Rs.150 to Rs.175. Last year it was anywhere between Rs.70 to Rs.90.

Vegetables prices had more than doubled. Ditto with Groceries and milk and many other things.

Bless the elections. Thank God we are carrying money and get vegetables in bag fulls whereas in the not-so-distant past we were carrying money in bags for very little of these.

These days auto drivers are asking between 90 and 120 and finally agree to Rs.100 for that trip to office. This has nothing to do with elections, though.
Many drivers are muttering that the Tata Magic has taken away their business (of extortion!).
I have not traveled in it yet but it looks decent and roomy with good seats. Its the latest share auto or should we say share van and much much better than those rickety black-yellow ones which were not at all convenient to share with others.
The charges in Tata Magic are so nominal too, that people are completely ignoring autos in Chennai. Its a boon to have such competitive and alternate transport system in place and that too without making too much noise over it.
It's come in very quietly and doing its job of ferrying the masses at a very affordable rate and far better than these over-crowded buses any day. It's here to stay as it's getting very popular due to public demand.

Thanks Tata Magic. You are silently creating a revolution in the transport sector.
I thought the Nano was a gem of an idea. This is even better! Because you see those rough and tough auto fellows come down from their high horses.

Now I know why Ratan means a gem!

Cheers!
Mahalakshmi