Indefinite strike to protest against illegal autos

Kolkata: Auto drivers of Baguiati-Ultadanga route called for an indefinite strike from Wednesday. It is alleged that several illegal autos are plying in the route.

Auto drivers alleged that for the past few years, the number of illegal autos have gone up. At present, more than 400 illegal autos are plying between Baguiati and Ultadanga whereas the number of legal autos in the route is 422. On several occasions, the auto union was blamed for backing ill-mannered auto drivers.

It is alleged that some auto drivers demanded high fare above the normal and behaved badly with passengers.

When the auto union tried to find out about such autos, they found that illegal autos were involved in these cases.

The auto drivers called for a strike to protest against the menace of illegal autos.

"No department whether it is police or the transport is doing anything. They are just providing assurances," said Biplab Modak secretary of the Baguiati-Ultadanga auto union.

"In the past few years we had met the Regional Transport Officer, Barasat, and the police administration regarding this. Every time they assured that the matter will be looked into. But later no action were

taken. Our auto drivers are not willing to continue the services till the matter is solved," said Modak.

As a result of the strike, a huge number of daily commuters were hit. Though the auto union claimed that the strike is for indefinite period, police authorities said normal services would resume after auto drivers submit a deputation before the Regional Transport Officer, District Magistrate and Traffic Inspector of Baguiati traffic guard.