With over 10000 diesel auto rickshaw go on the strike in state capital on Monday, the city streets were crammed with the daily commuters and the outsiders. Traveller has been seen bargaining with the rickshaw pullers and petrol auto drivers to reach their destinations.
People coming out of the Ranchi Railway station and students from the different colleges of the city were been seen waiting for hours looking for the autos in some parts of the city.
The strike was called to make the auto drivers free from the clutches of the unauthorised agents collecting money on the behalf of the RMC and to provide fresh permit to them to ply within the city area.
The demands raised by Jharkhand State Diesel Auto Driver Association (JSDADA) are to make a system where auto drivers need to pay the sum only once. “Whatever amount will be fixed by the RMC we are ready to pay. We also demand to give permit to all diesel auto rickshaws,” said Dinesh Soni, president of the Association. They have also grievances regarding the tender for auctioning nine auto stands in the state capital.
JSDADA women wing president Arti Behera said, “RMC has only two stands. One at Ratu Road and the other at Main Road. The nine auto stands set for auctioning are without any place specified. In addition to this, a separate tender has been floated for all the nine stands. It means that the auto drivers have to pay Rs 10 at all stands.”
“We want the sum to be fixed for everyday by RMC. We also wish to have the permit to run all registered diesel auto rickshaws inside the city. And there should not be any biasness in giving the permit,” she further added.
In reply to this RMC PRO Naresh Prasad Sinha said, “RMC CEO Manoj Kumar went to meet the protestors sitting near the office and appealed to break their indefinite fast. He also tried to clarify the association that the issues related to the tender can be decided only in the board meeting. If some locals are collecting money in the name of the corporation then auto drivers can complain to RMC and the corporation will look after it.”
The third and final demand raised by the JSDADA to stop beating and misbehaving with the auto drivers during traffic jams. Denying the issue Traffic SP Rajiv Ranjan Singh said, “These are false allegations. These things never happen nor has this kind of case been reported till now. Traffic police use whistles to clear the jams rather than beating or misbehaving on the city streets.”