Action on overloaded autorickshaws triggers fare hike, commuters protest

A crackdown by Noida traffic police and the transport department on overloaded autorickshaws operating near Sector 52 Metro Station has sparked daily chaos and growing protests from commuters who rely on these vehicles for travel, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

- Arun Singh

NOIDA:

The drive, which began last week, targeted autos carrying passengers beyond legal limits to Greater Noida West and the 7X sectors. However, the enforcement has had a ripple effect: many auto drivers, now restricted from seating passengers in the front, have started charging higher fares to compensate for lost income—angering daily commuters.

Last Friday, the situation boiled over when hundreds of passengers staged a spontaneous protest under the Metro station. The protest briefly disrupted traffic and highlighted growing frustration with both the fare hike and the lack of viable alternatives.