Even as the demand for implementing the reduced autorickshaw fares is growing, various autorickshaw drivers’ and owners’ Unions on Monday staged a demonstration here demanding withdrawal of the fare reduction notification.
Gathering under the banner of Federation of Karnataka Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) here, the protesters demanded withdrawal of the notification issued on January 9, enforcing the new fares from January 12.
The protesters termed the notification unilateral and said the operators were not taken into confidence by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), headed by the DC. Leaders addressing the protesters claimed that though fuel prices had come down, cost of living had remained the same, which affected the autorickshaw operators. Cost of spare parts and other consumables too had not come down, they said.
The leaders later met district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai and submitted a memorandum airing their grievances against the fare reduction. They also urged the Minister to address their woes, including reduction of food prices in hotels, before resorting to decreasing fares.
‘Enforce the order’
Meanwhile, the district unit of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has urged the RTA to immediately put into effect the January 9 fare notification in the interest of travelling public, particularly those from poor and middle classes.
In a release here, DYFI Secretary Santosh Bajal said the RTA should not withdraw the notification under pressure from autorickshaw unions. He said the RTA had taken the decision in earnest in the wake of steep reduction of fuel prices.
If the RTA did not enforce the notification or withdraws it, the DYFI and other organisation would resort to agitations, Mr. Santosh warned.
