Hundreds of autorickshaw drivers owing allegiance to Madurai District Integrated Ape Auto-drivers Welfare Association observed a daylong fast here on Monday, protesting against the police and the Regional Transport Office for not allowing them to carry more than the permitted three passengers.
Association president R.P. Chandrabose complained that the RTO officials had impounded 65 Ape auto-rickshaws in the past 20 days. Stating that the Ape autorickshaws were plying on the roads for more than a decade, he said that the police and the RTO officials were insisting that the Ape autorickshaws should not be operated on the lines of share autorickshaws.
“The officials are strictly implementing the rules and not allowing us to carry more than the permitted three passengers. We should be allowed to carry at least six passengers to make at least some profit,” he said.
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The drivers also wanted the authorities to allow modification of seats in the autorickshaws to carry more passengers. They alleged that the RTO officials were imposing huge fines even if they had all documents in order.