Passengers all over the State had a harrowing experience on Thursday as auto-rickshaws and taxis kept off roads since 6 am as part of the 12-hour strike called by different auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers’ organisations.
More than 1.35 lakh auto-rickshaws and 10,000 taxis in the State joined the strike demanding social and financial security. In the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack more than 70,000 auto-rickshaws stayed off the roads bringing misery for the commuters.
Office-goers, students and people in general were seen either waiting for city buses or walking to their destinations. The passengers, who arrived by train were taken by surprise by the strike. They did not know what mode of transport to avail to reach their homes. The passengers who arrived by buses at the Baramunda Bus Stand here had to trudge by foot to reach their destinations.
Similarly, the travellers, who arrived at the airport here also faced problems as the protestors did not allow the Uber and Ola taxis to ply and even dragged out the passengers and asked to Uber and Ola drivers to vacate the place.
“I cannot walk for long distances because of my knee joint problems and was forced to take a tricycle trolley to reach my home from railway station because of the auto-rickshaw strike,” said a passenger Susmita Das.
The association alleged that both the State Government and Centre are acting against the interest of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. All Odisha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Association general secretary Padman Samal said, “Whenever there is a rise in fuel prices, a technical team decides on increasing bus fares. However, there is no such mechanism for light vehicles such as taxi and auto-rickshaws. We demand revision in fare chart as per the fuel price hike.”
“The Centre should find a solution in view of the fuel price hike. Apart from this, the State Government should also put pressure on the Centre to resolve the issue,” All Odisha Auto-Rickshaw Drivers’ Association president Subash Singh.
The associations are also opposing an increase in the fitness tax and insurance premium of vehicles. “Once the Smart City project is implemented in Bhubaneswar, auto-rickshaws and taxis would not be allowed to ply on main roads. We oppose such illogical decision,” said an agitating auto driver.