The All Odisha Auto Chalak Mahasangha, an association of auto-rickshaws in the State, has threatened to stage a State-wide strike on May 5 to press for various longstanding demands and protest against the online auto service in the State.
The demands include provision of social security to auto-rickshaw drivers, a special auto transport policy by the State Government, a standard rate chart for all players and solution to the auto parking problem.
At a meeting held here on Wednesday, Mahasangha working president Naba Kishore Mohanty said entry of various foreign companies in the auto transport service would create lakhs of unemployed youths in the State.
“Even after our repeated demands, the State Government is yet to bring any transport policy for auto-rickshaws. Taking advantage of the situation, many MNCs have made an entry to the capital city for providing online auto service. Many of the companies have fixed their own rate chart which is much lower than the passenger fare fixed by the Government,” said Mohanty.
Prepaid auto service has been introduced for the benefit of passengers in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri. While the rate chart has been fixed by the RTO, police and auto Mahasangha, who gave permission to the MNCs to have their own rate chartIJ, questioned general secretary Padman Samal.
If the State Government does not solve the problems within 15 days, the auto association would stage a State-wide agitation on May 5.