Dinesh Kamath's news item "Auto drivers demand another hike, may go off roads from June 18 - Regular auto passengers not in favour of the hike" that was published in Newsband

Auto drivers demand another hike, may go off roads from June 18

Regular auto passengers not in favour of the hike

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Auto drivers in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai have threatened to go off roads indefinitely from June 18 to push for a hike in fares, among other demands.

Auto union leader Sharad Rao has threatened to go on indefinite stir across Maharashtra if his demands for a fare revision among other issues were not accepted by the state government.

Over 15,000 auto drivers, along with BEST and BMC staffers and hawkers, will take out a morcha from Byculla zoo to Azad Maidan to highlight their demands. Auto and BEST services may be affected partially on that day, sources said.

There is a proposal to introduce Quadricycles (small cars in lieu of autos) and six-seater taxis in the state. Sharad Rao has expressed his opposition to introduction of such vehicles and that can affect the livelihoods of auto drivers. The union has also opposed the 16-year age limit for autos. According to Sharad Rao, autos run on green fuel and can be in good condition even after 16 years.

Rao's demands include a fare hike of at least Re 1, "public servant" status for 5.5 lakh auto drivers across the state and social security schemes such as pension for them.

Residents of Navi Mumbai who travel by autos are totally against this another hike. According to them, already the fare has been raised to a great extent and so why should there be a need of another hike. Their question is why do these auto drivers deserve more fares when there is very little improvement in the quality of service they are rendering even after the auto fare was hiked considerably just recently? They also say that the government should consider the economic condition of the passengers before giving in to the automen’s demand for a hike in auto fare.