DTC bus strike leaves Delhi commuters stranded, auto fares rise up to 3 times

With DTC buses off the roads, commuters in areas such as Munirka are struggling to reach work, colleges and hospitals. Auto and e-rickshaw drivers are allegedly charging two to three times the usual fare, leaving passengers with few affordable alternatives.

In Short

• Commuters reported auto fares rising sharply amid the DTC bus strike
• A journey that usually costs Rs 20 was reportedly being quoted at Rs 100 or more
• Students and families travelling to hospitals said the lack of affordable transport was adding to their difficulties

The DTC bus strike has left commuters across Delhi struggling to get to work, colleges and hospitals, with many claiming that auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw fares have doubled or tripled amid the rush.

In Munirka, where bus stops usually see heavy footfall, passengers were seen waiting for buses that did not arrive. With public transport options limited, several commuters said they were being forced to negotiate sharply higher fares for short distances.

A journey that would normally cost around Rs 20 was reportedly being quoted at Rs 100 or more.

AUTO FARES RISE AS COMMUTERS SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES

Commuters alleged that auto drivers were demanding anywhere between Rs 50 and Rs 300, depending on the distance and destination.

For routes towards areas such as Palam, some passengers said they were being asked to pay Rs 250-300, considerably higher than what they would usually spend.

The sudden increase has particularly affected people who depend on buses for daily travel and cannot afford expensive alternatives.

PATIENTS, FAMILIES HIT BY HIGHER TRAVEL COSTS

The disruption has also affected people travelling for medical needs.

Some commuters said they were taking sick children or family members to hospitals on bicycles because they could not afford the fares being demanded by auto drivers.

The situation has added to the difficulties of people who rely on public transport for essential journeys rather than discretionary travel.

STUDENTS, OFFICE-GOERS STRUGGLE TO REACH DESTINATIONS

College students and office-goers have also reported delays as they wait for buses or search for cheaper alternatives.

Several commuters said they were reaching late because they had little choice but to either pay inflated auto fares or continue waiting for public transport.

Some passengers said app-based services such as Rapido were comparatively cheaper in certain cases, although fares on these platforms had also increased during the disruption.

COMMUTERS SAY AUTOS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE STRIKE

Passengers alleged that some auto and e-rickshaw drivers were taking advantage of the shortage of buses to charge arbitrary fares.

For daily commuters, the issue is not just inconvenience but the additional financial burden of having to pay several times the normal cost for routine journeys.

With bus services reportedly remaining disrupted, commuters said the problem was likely to continue until public transport operations were restored.

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