Nanganallur had far progressed from being an obscure suburb that it was a few decades ago. The "Kanchipuram of Chennai ", as it is fondly known, has always had to deal with issues of poor connectivity. The train service can very rightly be called the lifeline of Nanganallur.

As the we battle the monstrous inflation and rise in oil prices, rise in the already atrocious auto fares, can leave most residents trying to find their way out, crippled With almost negligent bus services, residents heavily have to rely on autos to find their way out .Ideally city autos are supposed to run on meters and the newly revised prices .It is an open secret that these autos don't run on meters. The situation is a far cry from that.

According to the Government's guidelines, autos are expected to charge a minimum of Rs.14. Nevertheless, autos in Nanganallur stuck to their minimum fare of Rs. 20, irrespective of the distance. After the Government increased the prices of fuel, the minimum charge has shot up to a whopping Rs.25 .You are expected to pay the amount no matter how short or long the distance is. The distance from Thillai Ganga Nagar to the railway station which is barely one kilometer will cost you Rs.25.

Another recurrent problem is that most autos refuse to budge out of Nanganallur, the only exception being neighbouring areas like Madipakkam, Guindy, Velachery and nearby areas . The ones who agree to come charge you an amount close to a two way journey .A one way journey to Guindy costs you Rs. 80, and distance is barely 4-5 kilometers. On an average day it was cost you around Rs. 120-150 to go to areas like Adyar, T.Nagar and Teynampet from Nanganallur. Areas further away will cost you more than Rs.150 and sometimes up to Rs.180. Adyar which is around 9 kilometers from here should ideally according to the metre cost you around Rs. 65 .These autos fleece you and sometimes charge you more than double of what they re supposed to charge.

People without private transport have to heavily rely on cab services, to go to areas not commutable by train. Residents are very distressed at the sky-rocketing auto fares in the area .

J. Jagadha , Resident says , " I have been living in Nanganallur for over 20 years now .I have also been using the trains from many years to go to work . Only off late from 4 years, I have started taking an auto to the station, since walking was getting quite tiresome and difficult. Since it was Rs. 20 I didn't really mind. But now that they've increased the minimum to Rs 25 many people are finding it very difficult .We have to leave much earlier for work and it disrupts your daily routine. Nobody uses the meter. And auto fellows are not considerate even though they know you for so many years. Action definitely needs to be taken."

Students studying in city colleges find it quite difficult to shell out a bomb every time they have to go the city by auto. M Aishwarya ,19 , Resident , "I think the auto fares in Nanganallur are very high .It becomes very difficult when we have to rely on autos to go to certain places .Days when I take an auto to my college in Nungambakkam , they charge Rs.120 , which is quite a lot .They have also hiked the minimum price . I m hoping the situation becomes better soon".

The rise in fuel prices has literally added fuel to fire. Residents here are hoping against hope for the condition to improve!

S Asha