Auto-rickshaw drivers under the banner of the Auto-rickshaw Coordination Committee staged a demonstration in front of the Regional Transport Office (RTO) here on Monday to press for their longstanding demand of introducing share taxi service in Baleswar.
Notably, the demand made by both residents and auto drivers in the town for the last three years has been supported by various civil society organisations.
“The town is expanding fast at a fast pace and so the business. There is no facility of share auto or taxi. People coming from far-flung areas come to the district for health service and to the Collectorate or other headquarters offices face various problems like high rates charged by manual rickshaw drivers and at times non-available of autos in the stand. And, pedal rickshaw cannot be hired for long distance. It is only city in the north where the service is not available,” local.
Former MlA and trade union leader Pradipta Panda headed the demonstration, where the agitators demanded immediate launch of the service. RTO A Patra assured the agitators to start the service by April 10 after having discussions with different agencies regarding the matter