Fuel price hike big blow to finances: Platform workers

Hyderabad: The latest hike in petrol and diesel prices has increased the burden on commuters, transport operators and gig workers across the city. Petrol now costs ₹110.8 per litre in Hyderabad, up by over ₹3.3 a litre from its previous range of ₹107.45–₹107.5 per litre.Diesel meanwhile saw a hike of over ₹3.2 per litre and now stands at ₹98.9 per litre, up from ₹95.7 per litre.While commercial drivers said the increase will directly affect their livelihoods, several regular commuters using personal vehicles feel the impact may show up in near future.Cab drivers said the latest hike will put serious pressure on their earnings. Mohammed, a cab driver attached to an app-based service, said high fuel costs are already taking away a major portion of their daily income.“Every time fuel prices increase, our expenses go up immediately, but customer fares do not increase accordingly,” he said. “After paying commission and fuel charges, very little money remains with us at the end of the day. Some days it becomes difficult even to meet household expenses.”Delivery workers also expressed concern over rising operational costs, saying they are forced to spend more on fuel while incentives remain unchanged.“We travel nearly 80 to 100 km a day for deliveries. Even a small increase in petrol prices affects us because most of us depend entirely on this work,” said Rahul Kumar, a food delivery executive in Hyderabad. "We cannot refuse orders, and the company incentives are almost the same despite increasing fuel prices.”K Ramesh, a private employee from Masab Tank, said: “I use my car for office travel and nearby errands. The prices are high, but since my daily travel is limited, I can still manage somehow. But if fuel prices continue to rise, it will become difficult for families.”Shaik Salauddin, founder-president of Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union, said: “The continuous rise in petrol, diesel and LPG prices is putting immense financial pressure on gig and platform workers. However, fares and delivery charges have not been revised in proportion to the fuel price burden. Electric vehicles are also not a viable option for many workers due to high costs and inadequate subsidies. The government and platform companies must ensure fair fares and better support for gig and platform workers.”