Auto strike cripples Hyderabad

Auto strike cripples Hyderabad
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Highlights

Auto strike cripples city, Chalo Assembly rally, Auto strike. The auto strike in the capital entered the second day with thousands of auto rickshaws remaining off the roads on Sunday.

  • Striking auto unions to intensify agitation
  • ‘Chalo Assembly’ rally today
  • Parents worried as schools reopen today
  • Office-goers too badly affected

Demands of Auto Unions

  • Scrapping GO 108 and e-challan
  • Revision of meter fare from Rs 16 to Rs 25
  • Removal of minimum qualification of Class 8 for drivers
  • Establishment of a welfare board

Hyderabad: The auto strike in the capital entered the second day with thousands of auto rickshaws remaining off the roads on Sunday. Over 500 auto drivers staged a protest at RTC Crossroads and burnt an effigy of the State government. They later staged a ‘rasta roko’ due to which the vehicular traffic came to a standstill for more than 40 minutes. The police too had a tough time controlling the agitating mob.

A Sathi Reddy, general secretary of AP Auto Drivers Samakhya, demanded that the State government scrap GO 108 and e-challan. “The government should replace e-challan with spot challan immediately and increase the minimum fare to Rs 25 from the existing Rs 16,” he demanded.

Meanwhile, many commuters faced hardships in reaching their destination. Lakshmi, a medical transcriptionist, said, “I am forced to take leave today. My auto driver informed me that he is not coming. I don’t know for how long this will continue? I am worried.”

On a usual day, nearly 80,000 auto rickshaws ply on the city roads. However, on Sunday only a few autos were spotted in the city. “I have been looking out for an auto for over an hour. I need to go to DD Colony,” said Naresh Kumar, as he was waiting at Anandbagh.

Parents are a worried lot as schools reopen on Monday. Vidya, a housewife, said, “My husband is on a tour and there is no one who can drop and pick up my children from school.”

People, who depend on auto rickshaws, would find it difficult in the coming days with RTC buses too expected to be crowded and cab operators increasing the fares.

Meanwhile, the auto unions have decided to continue the strike and have planned to take out a ‘Chalo Assembly’ rally on Monday. The rally is expected to start from AITUC office, Himayatnagar, at 10.30 am. Unions AITUC, IFTU, CITU, TNTUC, TADU (TRSKV), TTUC, TFTU, TSADU, GHADU, NTADU, AADU, APADS, TADJAC and Auto Owners Association will take part in the programme.

Auto Union Joint Action Committee members said that they were hopeful that the government would invite them for talks.

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