Commuters hard hit by auto strike in city

Commuters began feeling the pinch of striking auto and taxi drivers early on Tuesday morning according to several accounts. Even metro users, who depend on auto rickshaws for last-mile connectivity after de-boarding, complained as about 85,000 auto-rickshaws and 15,000 yellow-black taxis in the Capital began their indefinite strike.

Union representatives said the strike was in reaction to “step-motherly” treatment being meted out to them by the Delhi government while “Uber and Ola are being allowed to snatch their livelihoods away.” Lesser traffic as a result of the strike, however, spelt relief for those aboard their personal vehicles.

Union representatives said they had begun their protest at the New Delhi Railway Station on time.

A senior government official termed the strike politically motivated. 

Even as the AAP government called the protest “BJP-sponsored,” commuters were left stranded at various place including railway stations, ISBTs, airport and metro stations due to the strike called by Joint Action Committee formed by 20 auto and taxis (yellow-black) unions. 

The Committee claimed about 85,000 auto-rickshaws and 15,000 yellow-black taxis went off roads due to the strike. Rajendra Soni, member of the JAC, said the strike will continue till the city government takes strict action against the “operations of Ola and Uber which don’t have permits from the transport department to ply in the national Capital”.