Bhubaneswar: The 12-hour strike by auto-rickshaws and taxis Thursday created difficulty for commuters across the state. The strike was called by associations of auto-rickshaw drivers demanding financial security. They are demanding new auto stands and standard rates. Around 1.4 lakh auto-rickshaws and around 10,000 taxis joined the strike. Members of the Auto Chalaka Mahasangha staged dharnas across the state.
Office workers, students and commuters faced a tough time due to the strike that lasted from 6 am to 6 pm. “We demand revision of fares. There is always a revision of bus fares but light vehicles like taxis and autos are left out. The standard rate for autos was revised in 2008. Now it is 10-years-old and fuel prices are constantly increasing. The minimum rate should be fixed at Rs 10,” said Ramod Kumar Sahoo, an auto driver.
Cuttack Auto Driver Association Secretary Nabahan Swain said, “Due to the insurance that the government has put on us along with the fuel hike it is impossible for us to survive. Passengers are facing problems but we have to look after our problems as well and hence we request a solution from the government. For medical emergency cases 12 autos are running free of cost, since we do not want them to suffer”, he added.
Office workers, students and people in general were seen either waiting for buses or walking. The association is opposing an increase in the fitness tax and insurance premium. They said that both the State government and the Centre are acting against the interests of auto and taxi drivers.
Meanwhile, in the 12-hour strike by auto owners, an Ola driver was mishandled near Master Canteen Square by some protesting auto wallahs when he was picking up a passenger. They damaged his vehicle and started abusing him. The cab driver allegedly lost his mobile phone in the scuffle. A high voltage drama ensued after that.
The driver’s father, living nearby, reached the spot after a while and created hoo ha. He reportedly threatened to self-immolate if his son’s mobile phone was not retrieved. The police tackled the situation tactfully and took away the angry father asking him to lodge an FIR.
Besides observing a 12-hour ‘Chakka Jam’ strike Thursday across Odisha, the All Odisha Taxi-Auto Mahasangha also submitted a 7-point charter of demands containing a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and urged the Odisha Government to constitute a Transport Workers Welfare Board so that they could get justice.
The memorandum, bearing signatures of the Mahasangha’s president Subash Singh, patron-in-chief Ananta Narayan Jena, working president Nabakishore Mohanty and general secretary P. Kumar Samal, has requested the attention of the Chief Minister to their grievances.
“We demand that a separate Transport Workers Welfare Board should be constituted so that they will get proper justice,” states the memorandum.
The body has demanded a mechanism for fixing fares as per increases in fuel price, like the bus fare mechanism in the state.
The association is also opposing an increase in fitness tax and insurance premium. “After implementation of the Smart City project in Bhubaneswar, auto-rickshaws will not be allowed to ply on main roads. We oppose this,” said Padman Samal, General Secretary of the association.
“While there are facilities for app-based taxi and auto-rickshaw services at railway stations and airport, we are not provided parking space. Besides, we don’t have any social security,” Samal added.
Meanwhile, many commuters had a tough time across the State Thursday as auto-rickshaws and taxis decided to be off the road demanding revision of passenger fare and social security, and protesting against the increase in fuel prices.
The passengers found it difficult as the scorching sun made it difficult for them. “I had come from Berhampur to submit an important document in a government office. But when I reached here, I saw that there is a strike. I am now facing difficulty in reaching my destination and am skeptical about finishing my work on time,” said Laxman Kumar Dash.
Seema Rani Mohanty, a woman from Kendrapada, said she had come to the capital city for the Raja festival said that in such a hot season the strike made it impossible to travel.
“We know that passengers are having a harrowing time, but we do not have any other option. MNCs like Ola and Uber and taking away our opportunities. Moreover, the hike in fuel prices has compounded our worries. This is our way of protesting,” said Satya Narayan Gouda, another auto driver.