Commuters were left in the lurch as autorickshaw drivers went on a two-day strike from September 1 demanding a hike in fare and route enhancement.
As many as 6,000 autorickshaws from Noida and Greater Noida stayed off the roads. Noida CNG Autodrivers’ Association demanded single permit for Gautam Buddh Nagar district. Their charter of demands also included an increase in auto fares, installation of fare meters, barring autos from Delhi and other areas from plying in Noida and Greater Noida, among others. “I have to go to Greater Noida for a job interview, but all autorickshaws are on lockdown. I have been waiting for a bus for over two hours,” rued Manoj Sharma, a resident of Sector 34, Noida.
“Sensing opportunity, taxi drivers are charging exorbitantly. Why must the aam admi suffer because of Government red-tapismIJ” asked an irate Deepti Agarwal, waiting to flag an auto at Sector 15 Metro station. Omprakash Gujjar, president, Noida CNG Autodrivers’ Association, said if their demands are not met by the transport department, the association would further intensify its stir.