Strike off, autos on road today

With autorickshaws staying off roads on Thursday, the first day of April began on an inconvenient note for most Delhiites.

With autorickshaws staying off roads on Thursday, the first day of April began on an inconvenient note for most Delhiites.

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The situation will be back to normal on Friday, as autorickshaw unions have decided not to continue the strike

Autorickshaw drivers demanded an immediate hike in fare, since CNG prices have increased by Rs 2.50. The drivers are also protesting Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s recent comment that autorickshaws will be replaced by environment-friendly vehicles.

But the one-day strike was almost complete, with only a few autorickshaws plying in some parts of the city. Those on the road charged even four times the usual fare. “I didn’t get a bus from Greater Kailash to Connaught Place,” said Roshni Jain, 24. “The handful of autos on the roads were demanding as much as Rs 250.”

“If the government does not listen to our demands we will hold a demonstration on April 12 and might go strike again,” said Rajendra Soni, general secretary, Delhi Autorickshaw Drivers’ Sangh.