Partial response to auto union strike

Public who arrived in the city had a bitter experience on Thursday as they were caught unaware of the strike called by the auto union drivers joint action committee. The one-day bandh was called to protest against the provisions of the ‘Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014’ where the government has proposed to increase the amount of penalty on the violation of traffic and motor vehicle rules.

Mallesh, an auto driver at Jubilee Bus Stand, said, “There are more than 1.2 lakh autos in the city and we are not earning as much as before. Added to our woes is the Metro Rail project which is a threat to our livelihood. If penalties are hiked, we will be on streets. We are fine with penalties but not to this extent.”

The strike however evoked partial response in the city. A protest rally by different auto unions was taken out from Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Bagh Lingampally but was halted by the police at RTC cross roads. The auto drivers staged a rasta roko which affected transport services and traffic was blocked for 30 minutes. By afternoon the autos were back on the roads. A Sathi Reddy, general secretary, Telangana Auto Drivers Samakhya, said that if there is no positive decision, an intensive and prolonged bandh would be called in the near future.