Auto unions threaten strike from April 16

After HC upheld the state’s decision to enforce use of e-meters, auto unions threatened a state-wide agitation, and said they would move the apex court.

A day after the Bombay high court (HC) upheld the state government’s decision to enforce mandatory electronic meters, the Sharad Rao-led city autorickshaw union threatened to go on an indefinite state-wide agitation from April 16 onwards.

HT Image

The union will meet on April 4 in Parel to work out the modalities of the agitation seeking immediate hike in fares.

Rao on Sunday also said that he would approach the apex court over the mandatory installation of e-meters, in an appeal against the HC order.

“We will go to the Supreme Court to appeal the HC decision as soon as a copy of the order is available with us. The order copy is expected to come on Monday,” said Rao.

Rao’s Mumbai Autorickshaw Men’s Union had approached HC, seeking a withdrawal of the state’s notification of fitting mandatory e-meters from April 1 for all three-wheelers.

The court dismissed the petition on Saturday, saying it did not find any merit in the plea.

Meanwhile, Rao reiterated that his union would go on an indefinite strike from April 16 seeking a hike in the minimum fare from Rs11 to Rs16 and from Rs7 to 9 for every additional kilometre. The union leader demanded a hike on par with the fare in Delhi (Rs19) and Bangalore (Rs 17). “We want the hike to be on par with these two cities. In Mumbai, the cost of living is not cheaper than that in these two cities so the autorickshaw fare should be also be similar to that of these two other metros,” added Sharad Rao.

He said that this indefinite agitation would be observed across the state.

“We are firm on our stand and all 7.5 lakh autorickshaws from across the state will agitate from April 16 onwards to push our demand for an immediate hike,” said Sharad Rao.