Auto unions in the city called off their two days’ strike after meeting Delhi Transport Minister Satyendar Jain in which the latter accepted all their demands. It’s pertinent to mention that 17 auto unions had called off their strike on Wednesday itself while the remaining unions announced to call off their strike late on Thursday night.
“It was decided that Delhi government will take action against the vehicles operating in Delhi as taxi or auto. Those vehicles will be challaned and impounded,” said a senior officer. The auto and taxi drivers shall have to carry badge and run on meters only. The government also agreed to abolish the system of “class” for renewal of driving licenses for Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs).
“It was also decided that the auto and taxis of NCR could drop passengers in Delhi but could not pick up passengers from there,” he added.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, thousands of autorickshaws returned to the roads on Thursday amid a continuing strike by some unions, but passengers complained that those still on strike forced them out of the plying autos. Incidents of forcible stopping of autorickshaws were reported from several areas in the Capital, making commuting difficult.
“I took an auto from Alaknanda for Okhla but a group of drivers stopped our auto and asked us to get off,” Akansha, a working professional, said. The strikers also beat up the auto driver for not taking part in the strike, she added. Akansha was travelling with four others in the autorickshaw.
One of the strikers, who identified himself as Somesh Kumar, said the autorickshaw drivers were on strike since Tuesday that they would not let other autos on the roads.
Autorickshaws and yellow top taxi drivers went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday against the app-based cab aggregators. People had a harrowing time on Thursday after striking auto drivers halted traffic near Mahipalpur, on the road to the airport, in South Delhi. Some 200 drivers also protested in West Delhi’s Rohini area.