THE STRIKE call given by the UP Tempo Taxi Federation in support of their demands was a success. Most tempo operators in the city kept their vehicles off the roads.
Commuters suffered most because of the strike. They had to opt for more costly and inconvenient modes of travel. Those living in the suburban areas had to face more inconvenience as they had no option to reach their destinations. Many of them stopped trucks to travel.
Commuters expressed their annoyance on the local administration for not coming to their help.
Justifying their strike, the Federation alleged that the administration and transport authorities were not providing them with necessary basic facilities before introducing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for public transport. They demanded that the administration should provide them with similar facilities as was done to tempo operators in Delhi when CNG was launched there.
Besides, they also accused the local police of extorting money from tempo operators and demanded the district administration to crack down on such activities.
Examinees had a tough time due to the strike. Many of them could not reach examination centres on time and had to face difficulty in appearing for the examination.
{{/usCountry}}Examinees had a tough time due to the strike. Many of them could not reach examination centres on time and had to face difficulty in appearing for the examination.
{{/usCountry}}However, rickshaw-pullers made most of the strike. Commuters had no way but to pay exorbitant rates to rickshaw-pullers. For a kilometer’s distance the commuters, especially examinees, had to pay Rs 20.
At many places including Barra Chauraha, Rawatpur and Kalyanpur tempo drivers clashed with rickshawpullers for not cooperating with them.
At the Kalyanpur Crossing, some tempo drivers tried to manhandle rickshaw-pullers for parking rickshaws at the tempo stand. Cops intervened and averted a clash.
Residents of Kalyanpur and Rawatpur faced difficulties in taking patients to hospitals. In offices, mainly those situated in distant areas, attendance of female employees remained negligible.
Meanwhile, State president of Tempo Taxi Mahasangh Ramgopal Puri said they would launch an agitation in support of tempo operators in Kanpur if their demands were not met. Puri said they suffered a loss of Rs 20 lakh due to the strike.