Two-day auto strike in Delhi from Monday

If you travel in an autorickshaw to reach office, it could be a manic Monday. Many of the nearly 55,000 autorickshaws are going to remain off the street for two days.

If you travel in an autorickshaw to reach office, it could be a manic Monday. Many of the nearly 55,000 autorickshaws are going to remain off the street for two days.

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The Bharatiya Tipahiya Chalak Sangh, along with many other autorickshaw drivers’ unions has called for a two-day strike. Taxi unions decided not to support it.

The strike has been called to protest the government’s crackdown against autorickshaw drivers operating without valid licence and permit.

“We are protesting against the government’s policies that are hurting our livelihood,” said Sobran Singh Rajput, president of the Sangh. “If an auto rickshaw driver leaves his licence at home by mistake, he is fined up to Rs. 20,000. The drivers are left with no option but to fleece commuters.”

Not all unions are going on strike, so some autorickshaws will be on the road, but be prepared to be fleeced.

“Autorickshaw drivers are striking to resist any kind of clean up,” said Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely. “We will not let the unruliness continue on Delhi’s roads with drivers plying without a licence.”