‘Restrict solo-occupant cars’: Auto driver’s heartfelt plea to Kozhikode police chief goes viral

Kozhikode: “Respected Kozhikode City Police Commissioner Shoukath Ali Sir, I am Nasar, an ordinary auto-rickshaw driver in the city...” So begins a viral Facebook post that might initially draw a casual glance, but quickly holds the reader with its raw, emotional honesty. Within 24 hours, the letter gathered over 7,400 readers, around 800 shares, and more than 1,000 comments, including responses from senior police personnel.

While the request might seem unusual at first glance, the lines reflect the deep daily struggle of men pushing three wheels to earn a honest living. “Onam is approaching, and traffic gridlocks will multiply tenfold. Right now, on a ₹30 fare, ₹20 goes straight into fuel,” Nasar wrote.

Traffic in Kozhikode remains choked even on ordinary days, making the upcoming festival rush daunting for commercial drivers. “When a festival comes, people flood the city and potential fares surge, but we simply cannot move. This is a pain we have endured for years,” the post reads. To ease the congestion, Nasar proposed a temporary measure- to strictly restrict or penalise cars entering the city with only a single occupant.

‘Please do not abandon us’

Writing on behalf of his peers, Nasar detailed how the rapidly growing number of private vehicles and online taxis is overwhelming the city's infrastructure.
 

“I have been driving an auto-rickshaw in Kozhikode for the last 30 years. I am posting this with your photo, Sir, to voice my pain and the pain of my fellow drivers. Vehicles are multiplying every day. With new establishments and shopping malls, people arrive from all over, and 70 per cent of them come in private cars. The city lacks adequate parking space. On top of that, city auto permits have risen from 4,337 to nearly 7,500, alongside a surge in online taxis. The city is overflowing, and there is a limit to how much the police can control.

“I am writing because Onam is coming, and traffic jams will be 10 times worse until the festival ends. Like a previous Commissioner once did, respected Shoukath Ali Sir must take strict action. If a car enters the city with only one person inside as Onam approaches, strict measures should be enforced. Otherwise, we cannot take even a single trip. Out of a ₹30 fare, ₹20 is spent on fuel. Without strict action, the condition of poor auto drivers like us will be truly miserable.

“Festivals bring crowds and business, but gridlock stops us from driving. We have no one to give us a festive bonus or an advance. We rely entirely on our daily earnings to buy clothes and food for our children for Onam. It is out of pure desperation that I plead with you so humbly. Please understand our plight and do not abandon us.”

Nasar’s poignant message has struck a chord across social media, drawing widespread sympathy and reigniting public debate on urban traffic management ahead of the festival season.