A scuffle between two groups of autorickshaw drivers – one plying their vehicles fixed with meters and the other without devices - near the Central Bus Stand here led to tense moments on Wednesday.
Police and corporation officials held negotiations with both groups. The incident occurred after a group of drivers with their vehicles fixed with meters came to VOC Road adjacent to the Central Bus Stand to operate their vehicles from the spot.
A group of drivers with no meters in their autorickshaws raised objections and asked the metered drivers not to park their vehicles there. It sparked off a verbal duel resulting in a scuffle between them. The drivers with no meters in their vehicles reportedly damaged a hoarding brought in by the other group.
Angered over being attacked, this group of drivers sat on the road to express their protest. A team of police personnel held talks with both groups. The drivers who had fixed meters in their vehicles said they made a representation to the city police on Tuesday seeking protection for them from the other group as they had decided to operate the vehicles from the railway junction and central bus stand areas. They claimed that they were being seen as enemies by the other group.
“Even though we had adhered to the government’s directive and fixed meters, there was lot of opposition to us to operate from the Central Bus Stand from the other group,” one of the drivers said. OIfficials should find a solution to this issue and ensure safety of drivers who had fixed meters, another driver said.
