Auto, taxi strike hits city commuters

It was chaos in the suburbs during the morning peak hours on Tuesday as rickshaw drivers went on strike. This strike — the second by rickshaw drivers in less than three months — was part of a nationwide agitation by trade unions protesting against the rise in fuel and commodity prices.

It was chaos in the suburbs during the morning peak hours on Tuesday as rickshaw drivers went on strike. This strike — the second by rickshaw drivers in less than three months — was part of a nationwide agitation by trade unions protesting against the rise in fuel and commodity prices.

HT Image

Lakhs of commuters struggled to get to work, with the intermittent rain adding to their woes. “We went on strike to protest against rising prices. The public should appreciate that we took this step for their welfare,” said Sharad Rao, trade union leader and president, Mumbai Auto Rickshaw Union.

There were long queues at bus stops. The buses were crammed with commuters, many barely managing to hang on. Though taxis were running, there were few to be had. “What have rickshaw drivers got to do with trade unions’ demands?” said an exasperated Kunal Naik, a commuter at Andheri.

Stray incidents of violence were reported from Jogeshwari, Bandra, Andheri and Ghatkopar where rickshaw drivers stopped taxis from plying.