Autorickshaws protest RTA move

Autorickshaws were off the roads on Sunday in Pune as unions were protesting the Regional Transport Authority decision in not increasing the auto fares.

Autorickshaws were off the roads on Sunday in Pune as unions were protesting the Regional Transport Authority (RTA)s decision in not increasing the auto fares. It was a day-long strike

We are only asking the RTA to roll back its previous decision. It should revert to the original decision of Rs eight for every km. This is what the fare was prior to the decrease in petrol prices. Now petrol prices have increased again and the prices should go back to the original fare, said Pradeep Bhalerao,representative of Pune City Autorickshaw Federation.

Drivers said that with rising costs of vegetables,dal,and other food grains,it was unfair to expect auto drivers to survive on old rates.

Auto unions met the RTA on Friday where they were asked to convert to CNG.

We have only three pumps for CNG in pune. If they increase the number of CNG pumps then we will have no problem in converting, he added.

Auto unions are also demanding that the police stop their action against them. They keep fining us for not parking at designated auto stands,but this is because there are not enough auto stands to accommodate all the autorickshaws. We need stands at every chowk then, he said.

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories