India, April 14 -- Autorickshaws were once the defining Delhi motif, often seen on book covers and tourist souvenirs. Over the decades, however, they've spread far beyond the Capital, becoming common fixtures in other metro cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, and others. Today, it's hard to imagine any Indian city without them.

What hasn't changed, though, is their notoriety.

Delhi's autowallahs have a reputation for charging exorbitant fares, refusing rides, behaving rudely, or worse. But commuters in Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune and in other cities would tell you their own drivers are no different. And yet, cities can't seem to do without them.

Experts say what makes autorickshaws so indispensable in Indian cities - unlike i...