Autorickshaws in the city and other parts of Dakshina Kannada will not be operating on Monday as part of a protest against hike in the price of auto gas from Tuesday night.
The price of auto gas has increased from Rs. 50.97 per litre to Rs. 62.10. The price has been increased by Rs. 11.13 across the auto gas outlets in the district.
The autorickshaw drivers from as many as seven different associations held a meeting at Don Bosco Hall. “We either want an increase in the autorickshaw fare or withdrawal of the decision to hike the price of the gas,” said Arun Kumar from Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Autorickshaw Naukarara Sangha. Mr. Kumar said autorickshaw drivers were concerned over the drop in revenue because of the spike in the auto gas rate.
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Of the 5,800 autorickshaws plying the city, a majority of them use auto gas. Mr. Kumar said the meeting also discussed problems faced by the drivers about the delay by the District Administration in allocating space for autorickshaws in the city. Mr. Kumar said though as many as 300 spots had been identified a year ago, no action has been taken to notify it.
Hike in autorickshaw fare and autorickshaw parks will be the major demands on Monday.
Mr. Kumar said it was decided to keep autorickshaws off the road between Sunday night and Monday midnight.
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Earlier the autorickshaw drivers carried out a demonstration condemning the rude behaviour of Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports K. Abhayachandra Jain with protesting autorickshaw drivers in Mulki on December 30.
The autorickshaw drivers demanded a public apology from Mr. Jain for his conduct.