Auto drivers take out protest rally

Demanding a hike in basic fare and scrapping of penalties for petty offences,some autorickshaw drivers had called a strike on Monday. The drivers threatened those willing to ply and also damaged some vehicles.

After a four-day stir by autorickshaw drivers,the Samajwadi Party extended its support by organising Friday’s rally.

“The officials should check meter tampering,but often these tampered meters are passed without even getting the vehicle to the RTO by taking a bribe,” Samajwadi Party President Abu Azmi said. “The traffic police harass the drivers. They are fined for petty offences.”

Azmi said he plans to meet the Transport Commissioner regarding the autorickshaw drivers’ demand for a hike in basic fare. “There are same vehicles in Mumbai and Delhi,they run on CNG and need the same maintenance,then why should the fares be different?” Azmi said.

Traffic was slow moving on the Goregaon-Andheri link road,Lokhandwala Circle and Four Bungalows stretch due to the rally.

“I have been driving in Mumbai since 1993,but have never seen a such a huge rally by auto drivers,” Amarnath Gupta,a driver from Malad,said.

However,Gupta said the strike over the last few days was uncalled for.

“Even today,there were drivers stopping the rickshaws on the road,forcing passengers to get down and asking drivers to join the rally,” he added.