Kerala motorists cross borders to Tamil Nadu to get cheaper petrol, diesel

Autorickshaws and taxi drivers have been increasingly spotted crossing the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border to get cheaper fuel. Petrol and diesel available for three rupees lesser in the neighbour state is a matter of relief for motorists, especially taxi and auto rickshaw drivers

Thiruvananthapuram: While fuel prices continue to skyrocket, motorists have been pondering over alternatives in Kerala. After finding out that fuel is available for three rupees lesser in Tamil Nadu, motorists from border towns in Kerala are now flocking to the neighbour state.

Auto rickshaw and taxi drivers find it affordable going to Tamil Nadu as petrol and diesel are available for Rs102.80 and Rs98.53 respectively. In the capital district of Thiruvananthapuram, petrol costs Rs106.70 and diesel costs Rs100.23. Drivers gleefully fill their vehicles' fuel tanks after crossing the border and make both ends meet.

Currently, autorickshaws have a fixed rate of Rs12 per kilometre while the basic pay is Rs25 for initial 1.5 kilometres. Taxis have a base price of Rs17 per extra kilometre after the first five kilometres at a rate of Rs200. Motorists are now demanding a revision in the basic rates because of the fuel price hike.

"We do not have any other means to live. The vehicle itself costs a lot. Petrol, diesel prices are hard for us to bear. I have not even got any pension so far even though I am 60-year-old. My entire family is depending on this. My son, a daily-wage worker, rarely gets work. We are on the verge of poverty. The government needs to take a call and address our issues," said Shivarajan, an auto driver.

In a respite to motorists' woes over price hike, Tamil Nadu government had reduced fuel tax while the Centre hiked it. Reports said Tamil Nadu government had reduced the fuel tax by Rs3 in August 2021. In a reverse trend, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government announced the slashing of prices during the budget speech in the state assembly.