Mumbai auto strike gets lukewarm response

The strike has received mixed response in many parts of eastern and western suburbs as several autos were seen plying on roads.

The auto rickshw drivers affiliated to Mumbai Autorickshaw Men’s Union began their one-day Wednesday strike from midnight but have received mixed response in many parts of the suburbs so far.

Strike causes long queues of people waiting for a ride outside Bandra station on Wednesday (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

The union, one of the biggest unions representing auto drivers, has given this strike call for their various demands including restrictions on app-based taxis like Ola and Uber. Neither black and yellow taxis have participated in the strike, nor other auto unions. The strike has received mixed response in many parts of eastern and western suburbs as several autos were seen plying on roads.

Specially in areas like Bandra, BKC, Bhandup east, Dahisar, Borivali, Mulund, Malad, Thane, Mira-Bhayander and many other areas autos were a common sight on the roads. “Auto rickshaws were seen plying normally at Bhandup east, when I went to drop my daughter at the school around 8am,” said a Bhandup resident.

According to commuters, in some other parts like Ghatkopar, Goregaon, Jogeshwari, Andheri, Oshiwara and Chembur, hardly few auto rickshaws were plying.

Due to the strike, roads especially outside railway stations, which generally remain congested due to autos and other vehicles witnessed less congestion. According to motorists, traffic on roads was also smoother due to the strike.

Although the transport department directed MSRTC to operate more buses, but rush due to the strike was huge. People struggle to board a bus at Kurla station (West) on Wednesday. (Arijit Sen/HT PHOTO)

To avoid causing trouble to the commuters due to the strike, the transport department has allowed private vehicles like cars, trucks, buses and tempos to ferry passengers. Also BEST and MSRTC were directed to operate extra buses.

Several motorists tried to help stranded commuters and were seen giving lifts to commuters standing on bus stops.