Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu launched the `Auto Drivers sevalo’ Scheme on Saturday. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, BJP AP President PVN Madhav and Minister Nara Lokesh participated in the program. They left from Prakasam Barrage Lotus in an auto and traveled to Makineni Basava Punnaiah Grounds in Singh Nagar, Vijayawada.
Chandrababu, Pawan Kalyan, Madhav and Nara Lokesh spoke to the passengers as well as the auto drivers in the auto. Under this scheme, the coalition government will provide financial assistance of Rs. 15,000 each to the drivers who own their own autos, cabs and taxis and support their families by driving them.
The coalition government has launched this scheme in the name of `Auto Driver Sevalo’ to help auto and taxi drivers who are said to have lost money due to the provision of free buses to women in RTC buses. This decision was taken with the intention of providing assistance to drivers, although it was not included in the manifesto.
This scheme, which provides financial assistance of Rs 15,000 to auto and cab drivers, was approved by the state cabinet on Friday. In the first year, Rs 436 crore will be deposited in the accounts of 2,90,669 drivers. Of these, 2.64 lakh are auto drivers, 20,072 are taxi cab drivers, and 6,400 are maxi cab drivers.
The government will deposit the allocated funds directly into the accounts of the drivers. The previous government gave only Rs 10,000 per year to auto drivers. But the coalition government has increased it by 50 percent and is giving Rs 15,000. This scheme offered by the coalition government covers 2,25,621 auto drivers, 38,576 three-wheeler passenger vehicle drivers, 20,072 motor cab drivers, and 6,400 maxi cab drivers. Visakhapatnam district will benefit the most, with 22,955 drivers.
As the Chief Minister made it clear that no beneficiary should be left behind, the financial assistance has increased compared to the past and the number of beneficiaries has also increased significantly. Due to the poor condition of the roads under the previous government, auto drivers and motorists faced many problems.
Due to the potholed roads, autos and other vehicles used to get badly damaged. The cost of repairing them used to be prohibitive. However, after the coalition government came to power, it got rid of that problem. It spent Rs. 1,000 crore on road repairs and ensured smooth travel.
In addition, the green taxes imposed heavily by the previous government on old vehicles were reduced. The green tax, which was then Rs. 20,000, was reduced to Rs. 3,000 providing a huge relief to motorists. This has removed a large burden on autos and cabs.
