Soaring fuel costs push Patna’s taxi drivers into deep financial distress
मुख्य बातें
- •Fuel prices in Patna have surged by ₹20 per litre for petrol and ₹15 per litre for diesel in the past six months
- •Taxi drivers now spend nearly 40% of their income on fuel, up from 25%, making operations unsustainable
- •Many drivers are working fewer hours or taking loans to cope with the financial burden
- •The Patna Taxi Union has demanded fare revisions and government subsidies, but no relief has been provided yet
Patna’s taxi drivers are facing severe financial strain due to the relentless increase in fuel prices, which has pushed their operational costs to unsustainable levels. Over the past six months, the price of petrol has risen by approximately ₹20 per litre, while diesel—primarily used by commercial vehicles—has climbed by around ₹15 per litre. For drivers who rely on daily earnings to cover rent, food, and loan repayments, this surge has made it nearly impossible to break even.
Local cab operators report that fuel now accounts for nearly 40% of their total daily expenses, up from around 25% earlier. Many drivers have resorted to working fewer hours or taking on additional shifts just to maintain their income. Ramesh Kumar, a driver with four years of experience, shared that his monthly fuel bill has jumped from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000, forcing him to borrow money from relatives. “I used to save a little every month, but now even that is impossible,” he said.
