Auto-rickshaw drivers and owners in Mangaluru believe that a vibrant nightlife can contribute significantly to the city’s growth while improving their earnings, especially for those from the working class.
Currently, the city has over 7,500 traditional auto-rickshaws and 3,500 battery-operated ones. Around 14,000 drivers work in shifts across 241 designated stands. Despite these numbers, many struggle to make ends meet.
Drivers argue that extending nightlife hours would offer them more rides during the night, where fares are typically 1.5 times higher than daytime rates. However, safety concerns continue to discourage many from working late hours.
Lokesh Shetty, president of the Dakshina Kannada District Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Struggle Committee, noted, “Encouraging nightlife would benefit drivers financially. But authorities must prioritize driver safety, as crimes like assaults and thefts remain a concern during late hours.”
He added that cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru have benefited economically from an active nightlife culture, which also supports tourism and hospitality. “Instead of imposing strict curfews, the district should consider relaxing norms to help nightlife thrive,” he suggested.
Bharath Kumar, president of the Auto Rickshaw Owners’ Association, shared that most drivers wrap up by 8 pm, with only a few thousand working the night shift, mostly around train stations.
He recalled former DC Bharat Lal Meena’s vision of ‘Greater Mangaluru’ and lamented that it wasn’t fully pursued.
Contributing factors to the city’s weak nightlife include poorly developed tourist sites, limited licenses for pubs and bars, early beach closures, and lack of late-night cultural events.
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