Auto strike on Tuesday: One union calls off agitation

MUMBAI: While the Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union, the second biggest auto-rickshaw union in the city, has postponed its demonstration on Tuesday, the Sharad Rao-led

MUMBAI: While the Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union, the second biggest auto-rickshaw union in the city, has postponed its demonstration on Tuesday, the Sharad Rao-led Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union said it will go ahead with the protest on Wednesday.

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Thampy Kurian, general secretary of the Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union, said the union is waiting for a court order, which may direct the state transport department to issue fitness certificate for auto-rickshaws and to restart registration of new vehicles.

“We won’t be able ply autos on roads without certificates. The state government has stopped issuing fitness certificate for the past four days, which means at least 3,000 auto drivers are losing their daily business. If the court order is not in our favour, we will stage demonstrations,” said Kurian.

Meanwhile, considering the demand from taxi unions, transport minister Diwakar Raote has extended the deadline for renewal of cancelled or lapsed taxi permits till October 31, 2016.

Earlier, the transport department had given a deadline of July 15 for renewal of lapsed permits under the amnesty scheme. But the taxi unions had sought more time.