Central Railway has shut down the prepaid auto-rickshaw booth located on the west side of Nagpur Railway Station, compelling nearly 220 auto drivers to shift their operations outside the station premises.
The action was taken on Thursday afternoon in the presence of police personnel. Introduced in 2012, the prepaid auto service was launched to provide commuters with transparent and fixed fares for travel from the railway station to different parts of the city.
Over time, the service became a preferred option for many passengers, especially outstation travellers unfamiliar with local routes and fare structures. However, the growing popularity of app-based cab services gradually reduced dependence on prepaid autos, with commuters increasingly favouring cabs for convenience, safety and competitive pricing.
Auto drivers alleged that the closure was carried out without prior notice. Auto drivers’ leader Altaf Ansari claimed that drivers were suddenly asked to vacate the premises.
“We were not given any official communication. Around 220 drivers depend on this service for their livelihood,” he said, adding that repeated appeals to the RTO had not received any response.
Railway officials, however, clarified that the decision was linked to the ongoing redevelopment of the railway station. According to authorities, the prepaid auto booth is not part of the new station design and had to be removed to facilitate construction activities.
The move has triggered mixed reactions among commuters. While some passengers expressed concern over the discontinuation of a regulated fare system, others supported the decision, citing complaints against prepaid auto drivers in the past. Allegations had also surfaced that some drivers associated with the booth opposed the entry of app-based cab services at the station and occasionally disrupted their operations.
Despite the closure of the booth, auto-rickshaws will continue operating from outside the station premises. Passengers can still hire autos, though without the assurance of fixed prepaid fares. At the same time, many commuters are increasingly opting for app-based cab services for greater convenience and pricing transparency.
Welcoming the move, Deepak Sane, president of the Vidarbha App-Based Taxi Union, demanded the immediate introduction of a prepaid taxi booth. “Commuters should have the choice of travelling by auto-rickshaw or cab,” he said.
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