The Start of Share Auto
Share auto have significantly contributed to passenger mobility in Chennai since 1998. The share auto market way back in 1998 had only one predominant player (Vikram) but with the increasing
passenger demand the market has 5 players and more are getting added. There are around 1200 of such vehicles plying as share autos, out of which only 200 are given share auto permits till 2011. The revenue capacity of the share autos have also increased many folds from when they were initially introduced. Hence it becomes important to promote share autos towards introducing
sustainable well-connected public transport system and discouraging the growth of private modes of transport.
Today share autos rank second in number of passengers served per day catering to around 1.8 million passengers by any mode of public transportation in Chennai (next only to MTC). The share auto industry generates nearly ` 2 Crores per day which is 66 times more than the collection of MRTS and giving employment to large number of people. Numbers as of 2011.
Though the government encourages share autos by giving licenses they pose lot of restrictions in terms of boundary limitations and considers Paratransit services as the major reason for traffic
congestion and increasing pollution in the cities. The National Urban Transport Policy does not recognize the share auto sector as a major public transport mode, inspite of it being one of the
major mass transportation modes.