It was supposed to be a massive protest rally, not a strike.
It was supposed to be a massive protest rally, not a strike.
Mumbaikars were left in the lurch on Monday morning as most autorickshaw drivers stayed off the roads and headed to Bandra East to join the protest rally near the state transport commissioner’s office.
As autos lined up in the lanes near the Government Colony, the drivers waved flags and shouted slogans against the transport department at the nearby ground for “harassing them” since it started the anti-tampered meter drive in September. Their demands included hike in fare and social security benefits such as gratuity and pension.
The rally was organised by the Sharad Rao-led Mumbai Auto Rickshawmen's Union.
Kandivli resident Shraddha Joshi, 36, who travels by auto every day from Bandra station to her office in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), was forced to struggle into an overcrowded BEST bus in the morning.
“The BEST should have arranged for additional buses. The number of buses plying on the route (Bandra east to BKC) is inadequate and it is felt more on such days,” she said.
A BEST spokesperson said the undertaking operated 58 additional buses across the city to cater to the commuter rush as autos refused to ply.
Ghatkopar resident Hiren Patel, 41, who was travelling to Bandra for work, said: “There are no autos in south Mumbai, still there are enough taxis to cater to lakhs of commuters. If the suburbs get more taxis, the auto unions will not be able to hold us to ransom.”
Monday morning saw severe traffic jams on both eastern and western express highways as the traffic police stopped autos at Goregaon, Santacruz, Bandra, Mulund, Bhandup and Ghatkopar and other places from heading towards Bandra (East) to join the protest. They were doing so to avoid the situation from getting out of control.
But Nandkumar Chowgule, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said: “More than 50% autorickshaws stayed off the roads. There were no major traffic jams in the city, but for the one at Mahalaxmi junction where devotees converge in large numbers to visit the temple during Navratri.”
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